WASHINGTON D.C. — The FBI has confirmed that 34-year-old Aaron Alexis, originally from Queens, New York and last known to reside in Fort Worth, Texas is the dead gunmen suspected of a role in the Navy Yard mass shooting. The mass shooting has claimed thirteen lives at last report, including Alexis’.
The FBI wants anyone with any information about Alexis to contact the Washington D.C. Field Office at (202) 278-2000 or 1-800-CALL-FBI.
Alexis was a veteran of the United States Navy. The Navy said in a release that Alexis left the Navy as a petty officer third class in January of 2011. He had enlisted in 2007 and achieved his rank in December of 2009. He was awarded the National Defense Service Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. His biographical data indicated that he was stationed at the Fleet Logistics Support Squadron in Fort Worth when he detached in 2011.
Aside from the information about his military career, media outlets in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex are reporting more about his personal life and recent contact with people in the area.
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram talked to Alexis’ roommate of three years. Nutpisit Suthamtewakul owns Happy Bowl Thai and employed Alexis. He described him as his ‘best friend’ and non-aggressive. The newspaper reports that Alexis had recently visited Thailand and had taken a trip to Japan with a defense contractor according to a customer who frequented Happy Bowl Thai.
KDFW, the FOX affiliate in Dallas, reports that Alexis was arrested in September of 2010 for discharging a firearm within the city limits of Fort Worth. While he posted the bail of $2,000, he was not charged in the incident. He told police that he was cleaning his gun when it discharged. They also reported that Alexis spent time at a local Buddhist temple.
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting police were reportedly searching for three suspects. In the final press conference on Monday night, Washington D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier said that authorities are confident that Alexis acted as a lone gunmen. She also said that his motive had still not been determined.
