Two suspected gunmen are “down” after a horrific shooting at the Navy Yard in Washington D.C. early this morning that left several dead, according to Ed Zeigler, director of Public Affairs for Naval District Washington.
Zeigler was unable to confirm whether the gunmen were killed or taken into custody, but early reports that there were only injuries are now being corrected as deaths are confirmed. The list of fatalities has not been released and there is still an active investigation on the scene.
Witnesses say one gunman–about 6 feet tall with a bald head, dressed all in black–fired multiple shots inside the building, hitting a police officer, before barricading himself into a room. The shots were fired after a fire alarm went off, sending employees out of their offices and into the line of fire. The scene, one witness said, was chaos.
“He aimed the gun and fired our way,” Todd Brundidge said. “I couldn’t believe it. Everyone was going down the stairs. They were pushing. They were shoving. People were falling down. As we came outside, people were climbing the wall trying to get over the wall to get out of the spaces. It was just crazy.”
As the investigation continues, more information about the victims will be released and we will update this article. More than 3,000 people are employed at the Navy Yard.