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| Navy Yard: Aaron Alexis 'treated for mental health' | Navy Yard: Aaron Alexis 'treated for mental health' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The ex-US Navy reservist who killed 12 people and wounded eight at a Washington DC Navy installation had received treatment for mental health issues, US media have reported. | The ex-US Navy reservist who killed 12 people and wounded eight at a Washington DC Navy installation had received treatment for mental health issues, US media have reported. |
| Aaron Alexis, 34, was treated for paranoia, trouble sleeping and hearing voices, the Associated Press reported. | Aaron Alexis, 34, was treated for paranoia, trouble sleeping and hearing voices, the Associated Press reported. |
| A contractor for the Navy, he had a valid pass for the secure site at the Washington Navy Yard, authorities said. | |
| Alexis was shot and killed by police during the attack. | |
| On Tuesday, the US capital remained in a state of shock and mourning. | On Tuesday, the US capital remained in a state of shock and mourning. |
| Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel laid a wreath at US Navy Memorial Plaza in honour of the Navy Yard victims. | Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel laid a wreath at US Navy Memorial Plaza in honour of the Navy Yard victims. |
| A Washington Nationals baseball game originally scheduled for Monday night was rescheduled to Tuesday afternoon - the baseball stadium is just blocks from the Navy Yard. | A Washington Nationals baseball game originally scheduled for Monday night was rescheduled to Tuesday afternoon - the baseball stadium is just blocks from the Navy Yard. |
| The flag flew at half-mast over the White House, where hours after the attack President Barack Obama mourned "yet another mass shooting". | |
| A senior Democrat in the US House of Representatives said he expected the incident would reignite the nation's long-standing gun control debate. | |
| "I'm sure that it will renew the discussions about access to weapons that can be used to kill a lot of people quickly," said Steny Hoyer. | |
| On Monday, however, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney deemed any talk of the political issue "inappropriate" so soon after the killings. | |
| No motive is known for the attack. | No motive is known for the attack. |
| The victims ranged in age from 46 to 73, and details about their identities and lives have just begun to emerge. | The victims ranged in age from 46 to 73, and details about their identities and lives have just begun to emerge. |
| The shooting began about 8:20 local time (12:20 GMT) on Monday, when a gunman apparently shot his way into the heavily guarded Building 197, headquarters for Naval Sea Systems Command, which builds and maintains ships and submarines for the Navy. | The shooting began about 8:20 local time (12:20 GMT) on Monday, when a gunman apparently shot his way into the heavily guarded Building 197, headquarters for Naval Sea Systems Command, which builds and maintains ships and submarines for the Navy. |
| As an employee of an IT contractor, Alexis apparently had a card granting him access to the building - even though he had had several run-ins with the law and had been discharged from the Navy under a cloud, authorities said. | As an employee of an IT contractor, Alexis apparently had a card granting him access to the building - even though he had had several run-ins with the law and had been discharged from the Navy under a cloud, authorities said. |
| "It really is hard to believe that someone with a record as chequered as this man could conceivably get, you know, clearance to get... credentials to be able to get on the base," Washington DC Mayor Vincent Gray told CNN. | "It really is hard to believe that someone with a record as chequered as this man could conceivably get, you know, clearance to get... credentials to be able to get on the base," Washington DC Mayor Vincent Gray told CNN. |
| On Tuesday, Alexis' employer said the military should have made his record known. | |
| "Anything that suggests criminal problems or mental health issues, that would be a flag. We would not have hired him," Thomas Hoshko, chief executive officer of The Experts, told the Washington Post. | |
| The IT contractor confirmed Alexis had worked since July at six different military installations and had only been at the Navy Yard for a few days before the shooting. | |
| Witnesses said the gunman sprayed bullets in a hallway and fired from a balcony down on to workers in an atrium at the heavily secured installation in the US capital. | |
| He was reportedly armed with an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle, a shotgun and a handgun that he took from a police officer at the scene. | He was reportedly armed with an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle, a shotgun and a handgun that he took from a police officer at the scene. |
| Police initially responded to reports of two other armed suspects, but after exhaustive searches authorities said they were all but certain that Alexis was the only gunman. | Police initially responded to reports of two other armed suspects, but after exhaustive searches authorities said they were all but certain that Alexis was the only gunman. |
| Washington Police Chief Cathy Lanier told reporters the gunman "was engaged in shooting with police officers" when he died. "There is no question he would have kept shooting," she added. | Washington Police Chief Cathy Lanier told reporters the gunman "was engaged in shooting with police officers" when he died. "There is no question he would have kept shooting," she added. |
| Alexis was formerly a petty officer 3rd class who served full-time in the naval reserve from 2007-11, said the US Navy. | Alexis was formerly a petty officer 3rd class who served full-time in the naval reserve from 2007-11, said the US Navy. |
| He received two routine medals for his service in the Navy: the National Defense Service Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. | He received two routine medals for his service in the Navy: the National Defense Service Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. |
| Alexis separated from the Navy reserves under what is called a general discharge, a status that suggests misconduct. It was not immediately clear why he left the military, but unnamed military officers told US media there had been a series of issues during his service. | Alexis separated from the Navy reserves under what is called a general discharge, a status that suggests misconduct. It was not immediately clear why he left the military, but unnamed military officers told US media there had been a series of issues during his service. |
| According to media reports, Alexis was a Buddhist convert who had had two previous gun-related brushes with the law. | According to media reports, Alexis was a Buddhist convert who had had two previous gun-related brushes with the law. |
| In 2004 he was arrested in Seattle for shooting a construction worker's car tyres, in what he described as an enraged "black-out". | In 2004 he was arrested in Seattle for shooting a construction worker's car tyres, in what he described as an enraged "black-out". |
| And Alexis was questioned by Fort Worth police in 2010 after firing his gun through the floor of an upstairs apartment. He said it was an accidental discharge. | And Alexis was questioned by Fort Worth police in 2010 after firing his gun through the floor of an upstairs apartment. He said it was an accidental discharge. |
| Also, in August 2008 he was arrested for disorderly conduct in the state of Georgia, according to the Smoking Gun, a website that collects police and court documents. Details on the incident were not available. | Also, in August 2008 he was arrested for disorderly conduct in the state of Georgia, according to the Smoking Gun, a website that collects police and court documents. Details on the incident were not available. |