Sources: Navy officer, Marine fought to take out Chattanooga gunman

The Navy Times – by David Larter

A Navy officer and a Marine fired their sidearms hoping to kill or subdue the gunman who murdered five service members last week in Chattanooga, Tennessee, according to multiple military officials familiar with internal reporting on the tragedy.

It remains unclear whether either hit Muhammad Abdulazeez, who was shot and killed on July 16 after he gunned down four Marines and a sailor at the Navy Operational Support Center in Chattanooga. It’s also unclear why they were armed, as it is against Defense Department policy for anyone other than military police or law enforcement to carry weapons on federal property.  

A report distributed among senior Navy leaders during the shooting’s aftermath said Lt. Cmdr. Timothy White, the support center’s commanding officer, used his personal firearm to engage Abdulazeez, Navy Times confirmed with four separate sources. A Navy official also confirmed a Washington Post report indicating one of the slain Marines may have been carrying a 9mm Glock and possibly returned fire on the gunman.

The various law enforcement agencies investigating the Chattanooga shooting declined to comment. A source close to the investigation said details of the rampage’s last few minutes remain unclear, but no information has emerged to contradict the Navy’s internal findings.

Authorities will not know whether White or the Marine hit Abdulazeez until an autopsy and ballistics assessment are performed.

Several attempts to contact White were unsuccessful.

The shootings in Chattanooga unfolded on the morning of July 16 when, the FBI said, Abdulazeez pumped dozens of rounds into a strip mall recruiting station before driving across town to the Navy support center. No one was killed inside the recruiting station.

Police responding to the first shooting passed the Navy support center en route, and some were diverted to the scene of the second attack, according to a source with knowledge of the investigation.

Killed in the attack were Marine Gunnery Sgt. Thomas Sullivan, Lance Cpl. Squire K. Wells, Staff Sgt. David Wyatt and Sgt. Carson Holmquist. Navy Logistics Specialist 2nd Class Randall Smith died on July 18 from wounds sustained during the shooting.

7 thoughts on “Sources: Navy officer, Marine fought to take out Chattanooga gunman

  1. “It’s also unclear why they were armed,”

    No chance it was to increase their chances of survival when some psycho gunman tries killing them…

    ” …it is against Defense Department” Gov “policy for anyone other than military police or law enforcement to carry weapons on federal property ” defend themselves again imminent danger.

  2. “It remains unclear whether either hit Muhammad Abdulazeez, who was shot and killed on July 16 after he gunned down four Marines and a sailor at the Navy Operational Support Center in Chattanooga.”

    It also remains ‘unclear’ whether ANY of this (excluding the bullet holes) even occurred. Far more evidence indicating it didn’t than did, imo.

    “… Abdulazeez pumped dozens of rounds into a strip mall recruiting station before driving across town to the Navy support center.”

    The bullet holes I saw. At least they went to that much trouble with this one.

    “Killed in the attack were Marine Gunnery Sgt. Thomas Sullivan, Lance Cpl. Squire K. Wells, Staff Sgt. David Wyatt and Sgt. Carson Holmquist. Navy Logistics Specialist 2nd Class Randall Smith died on July 18 from wounds sustained during the shooting.”

    THIS, however, I haven’t seen one shred of supporting evidence for. Considering we’ve already established that the ‘body’ of the ‘dead terrorist’ was nothing more than a dummy, it follows that the same goes for the ‘victims’.

  3. “Authorities will not know whether White or the Marine hit Abdulazeez until an autopsy and ballistics assessment are performed.”

    If they had hired Wayne Carver from Sandy Hoax he would be giving a stand-up press conference by now. He was able to complete almost ALL of those autopsies overnight directly following that “massacre”.

    Perhaps they’re trying to tell us Muslims have a thing for kneecaps as the Boston smoke bombing only injured everyone there from knees and below? All the bullet holes in the windows are clearly attempts at kneecapping someone!

    I thought joos were supposed to be good at movie production? Or was it the Arabs? Better ask AJ on that one.

    1. It was odd how no bullets hit the window frames or walls?…… broken glass/bullet holes in glass make great news copy!

      1. Heck of a grouping too! Looks like 8-10 hits in a 6″ group by the door handle. I do believe I see a hit directly under the lock (appx 2″)

  4. You understand the effort that’s being made to hush this up. They may have actually armed themselves (contrary to DoD policy) AND effectively defended themselves against this attack.

    We can’t have stories like this getting out, now can we?

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