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  • San Diego Navy Base Locked Down Over Pellet Gun

    San Diego Navy Base Locked Down Over Pellet Gun

    A Naval Base in San Diego was locked down this week over shooting fears caused by a rather harmless weapon.

    Naval Base Point Loma in San Diego was shut down early Thursday morning after the Navy received reports of men with a gun on the base. The base was locked down under a shelter-in-place warning for hours as the matter was investigated. The Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), FBI, and San Diego police all responded to the base.

    According to a Reuters report, the quick investigation found that the scare was caused by two sailors using an Airsoft pellet gun. The men had reportedly been using the weapon to shoot at a mirror located in a parking structure on the base.

    The sailors are now in Navy custody. Though the Navy said it does not suspect the men intended to scare or injure anyone, they are “likely” to be charged over the incident. The NCIS is investigating the specifics of the case.

    Naval Base Point Loma is a large base made up of several Naval installations consolidated in 1998. The base includes a submarine base and training facilities; the Fleet Intelligence Command Pacific; and the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR). According to its website, Naval Base Point Loma’s mission is to “enable and sustain Fleet, Fighter, and Family readiness through consistent, standardized, and reliable shore support while preserving the critical resources necessary to secure the future of our forces.”

    This naval base shooting scare comes within months of several high-profile Naval base shootings that were not false alarms. On September 16, 2013, Navy subcontractor Aaron Alexis opened fire at the Washington Navy Yard, killing twelve people. In October another shooter injured two people at a Naval base in Tennessee. Just last month two people were shot and killed aboard the USS Mahan, a ship docked at Naval Station Norfolk off the coast of Virginia.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons/U.S. Navy

  • USS Mahan: Shooting Investigation Continues

    On Monday night, two people were reportedly killed onboard the USS Mahan, a guided-missile destroyer. The Navy ship was docked at the Naval Station in Norfolk. It has been there since September after it spent over eight months in deployment.

    According to reports from the U.S. Navy, the incident happened at about 11:20 p.m. when a civilian went onboard the ship and approached the Quarterdeck. He was then reprimanded by security. The suspect was able to disarm the petty officer and the gun was used to shoot and kill the sailor who responded to help.

    Security personnel who responded to the scene were able to kill the suspect.

    The identities of the sailor and the suspect have not yet been released due to the ongoing investigation.

    According to sources, the suspect did not have the authority to be on the base at all. However, he had TWIC or Transportation Worker Identification Credential. This allowed the suspect to have access to Pier 1, but not aboard the USS Mahan where the incident happened.

    The Transportation Security Administration said that not just anyone can have the TWIC. Applicants must submit to security threat assessment and they must also provide fingerprints. Those who have the TWIC are typically the ones who need unsupervised access to vessels and maritime facilities that are secure from civilians.

    NCIS has already completed the physical investigation of Pier 1 and the Navy has taken over. However, the NCIS is still taking statements and interviewing people.

    In a press conference, base commander Capt. Robert Clark said that the Navy will be looking into their security measures. He also said that the Navy’s thoughts and prayers are with the family of the deceased sailor.

    “We are in the process of notifying the sailor’s next of kin, and I would ask that you please respect their privacy at this very difficult time.” The Captain refused to give specific information about the sailor, saying that it was not appropriate to do so at the present time.

    Main image via YouTube, image of ship via Wikimedia Commons