Washington DC Shooting: Aaron Alexis Named As Navy Yard Gunman Live

Aaron Alexis was arrested in Seattle in 2004 for an “anger-fuelled” shooting, according to the Seattle police department.

• theguardian.com, Monday 16 September 2013 17.58 EDT
• Adam Gabbatt

The Seattle police blog confirms that Alexis was arrested after shooting out the tyres of a man’s vehicle.

Following his arrest, Alexis told detectives he perceived he had been “mocked” by construction workers the morning of the incident and said they had “disrespected him.” Alexis also claimed he had an anger-fueled “blackout,” and could not remember firing his gun at the victims’ vehicle until an hour after the incident.

Alexis also told police he was present during “the tragic events of September 11, 2001″ and described “how those events had disturbed him.”

Detectives later spoke with Alexis’ father, who lived in New York at the time, who told police Alexis had anger management problems associated with PTSD, and that Alexis had been an active participant in rescue attempts on September 11th, 2001.

Barack Obama has issued a presidential proclamation honourig the victims of the shooting at the Washington navy yard. The president has ordered for flags to be lowered to half-staff at all public buildings and military posts.

Full text:

As a mark of respect for the victims of the senseless acts of violence perpetrated on September 16, 2013, at the Washington Navy Yard, by the authority vested in me as President of the United States by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby order that the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions until sunset, September 20, 2013. 

I also direct that the flag shall be flown at half-staff for the same length of time at all United States embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations.

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