Navy Yard Shooter Identified

Authorities ID suspect as Aaron Alexis; death toll hits 13
By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff
Posted Sep 16, 2013 3:07 PM CDT
Updated Sep 16, 2013 4:04 PM CDT
Navy Shooter Identified
A US Park Police helicopter continues a search pattern above the scene of a shooting at the Washington Navy Yard on Monday, Sept. 16, 2013.   (AP Photo/ Evan Vucci)

The FBI has identified the alleged shooter responsible for today's Washington Navy Yard shooting as Aaron Alexis, a 34-year-old from Fort Worth, Texas, the Washington Post reports. At the same press conference, officials confirmed the death toll in the shooting has risen to 13—including Alexis. Alexis served four years in the Navy as a full-time reservist, and was discharged in 2011. Sources tell the AP that Alexis has a criminal record—CBS reports that he was arrested in 2010 for discharging a firearm in public—but nonetheless has a concealed carry permit in Texas. During the shooting, he was allegedly carrying a semiautomatic 9mm pistol and an AR-15 assault rifle, reports NBC Washington.

Authorities are investigating whether Alexis was working as a defense contractor or a civilian employee of the Navy, and whether he was assigned to the Navy Yard, reports the Post, but authorities believe he got in using someone else's ID card. CBS reports that the ID belonged to one Rollie Chance, who has been on administrative leave since October. Chance says he does not know Alexis. Meanwhile, police are still searching for a second possible suspect in the shooting, described as a black man between 40 and 50, wearing an olive uniform and armed with a "long gun," reports NBC Washington. (More Aaron Alexis stories.)

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