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Navy Yard shooter’s sister: ‘It’s very scary for me now that the time has come’ Navy Yard shooter’s sister: ‘It’s very scary for me now that the time has come’
(about 2 hours later)
The gunman’s sister is afraid.The gunman’s sister is afraid.
Naomi Alexis wants to talk about the day her 34-year-old sibling, Aaron Alexis, opened fire at the Washington Navy Yard, slaying 12 people and injuring five others before being killed by police. It’s time, she says, for someone in her family to open up about the mental health problems that enveloped her brother before his rampage. But she delays one scheduled interview after another.Naomi Alexis wants to talk about the day her 34-year-old sibling, Aaron Alexis, opened fire at the Washington Navy Yard, slaying 12 people and injuring five others before being killed by police. It’s time, she says, for someone in her family to open up about the mental health problems that enveloped her brother before his rampage. But she delays one scheduled interview after another.
“It’s very scary for me now that the time has come,” she writes in an e-mail explaining her change of heart. “I don’t want to feel out of control. People died. There’s a tremendous amount of grief and pain wrapped up in all of this.” “It’s very scary for me, now that the time has come,” she writes in an e-mail explaining her change of heart. “I don’t want to feel out of control. People died. There’s a tremendous amount of grief and pain wrapped up in all of this.”
On the morning of Sept. 16, 2013, the Alexises joined the tiny, but ever-expanding group of families across the U.S. with a relative who committed a mass shooting. Their ranks include the Lanzas and the Loughners, the Holmeses and the Hasans, the Chos and the Harrises — names that dominated news cycles after other mass shootings. On the morning of Sept. 16, 2013, the Alexises joined the tiny, but ever-expanding group of families across the United States with a relative who committed a mass shooting. Their ranks include the Lanzas and the Loughners, the Holmeses and the Hasans, the Chos and the Harrises — names that dominated news cycles after other mass shootings.
Most families release a brief public statement expressing shock and sorrow immediately after the killings, then retreat as quickly as possible from the glare of public scrutiny. The burden of their guilt and grief and fear silences many for years and sometimes permanently.Most families release a brief public statement expressing shock and sorrow immediately after the killings, then retreat as quickly as possible from the glare of public scrutiny. The burden of their guilt and grief and fear silences many for years and sometimes permanently.
It took five years for the parents of Dylan Klebold — one of two Columbine High School seniors who killed 12 classmates, and one teacher and injured many more before taking their own lives in 1999 — to give an interview to the New York Times about their struggle to understand their son’s actions and live with the consequences of them. The parents of Eric Harris, Klebold’s partner in the Columbine massacre, have never spoken publicly. It took five years for the parents of Dylan Klebold — one of two Columbine High School seniors who killed 12 classmates and one teacher and injured many more before taking their own lives in 1999 — to give an interview to the New York Times about their struggle to understand their son’s actions and live with the consequences of them. The parents of Eric Harris, Klebold’s partner in the Columbine massacre, have never spoken publicly.
The stigma can be relentless. Or as Naomi Alexis puts it in one e-mail: “I’ve had people stop returning e-mails, phone calls once they Googled my name.”The stigma can be relentless. Or as Naomi Alexis puts it in one e-mail: “I’ve had people stop returning e-mails, phone calls once they Googled my name.”
Eight hours after the gunman stalked Building 197 with a Remington 870 shotgun and sent hundreds of panicked Navy Yard workers into the streets of Southeast Washington, his name and image flashed across television and computer screens: Aaron Alexis.Eight hours after the gunman stalked Building 197 with a Remington 870 shotgun and sent hundreds of panicked Navy Yard workers into the streets of Southeast Washington, his name and image flashed across television and computer screens: Aaron Alexis.
The news sent a wave of reporters to the tree-lined street in Brooklyn, home to his mother Cathleen Alexis. Yellow police tape blocked off access to the brownstone where she lived. The news sent a wave of reporters to the tree-lined street in Brooklyn, home to his mother, Cathleen Alexis. Yellow police tape blocked off access to the brownstone where she lived.
Two days later, as details emerged about her son’s troubled mental state, Cathleen made her only remarks about the shooting. Flanked by two clergy inside her living room, she read aloud a statement to a pool reporter.Two days later, as details emerged about her son’s troubled mental state, Cathleen made her only remarks about the shooting. Flanked by two clergy inside her living room, she read aloud a statement to a pool reporter.
“I don’t know why he did what he did, and I’ll never be able to ask him why,” Cathleen said in a voice that quivered with sadness. “Aaron is now in a place where he can longer do harm to anyone, and for that I am glad. To the families of the victims, I am so, so very sorry that this has happened. My heart is broken.” “I don’t know why he did what he did, and I’ll never be able to ask him why,” Cathleen said in a voice that quivered with sadness. “Aaron is now in a place where he can no longer do harm to anyone, and for that I am glad. To the families of the victims, I am so, so very sorry that this has happened. My heart is broken.”
After renouncing her son’s actions, Cathleen Alexis withdrew. But the photographers, cameramen and reporters camped outside her home did not. The New York Daily News even snapped a photo of Cathleen answering her door.After renouncing her son’s actions, Cathleen Alexis withdrew. But the photographers, cameramen and reporters camped outside her home did not. The New York Daily News even snapped a photo of Cathleen answering her door.
“Random people were dropping off letters, people who pretended they knew my brother,” recalled Naomi, 32. “It was a scary thing.”“Random people were dropping off letters, people who pretended they knew my brother,” recalled Naomi, 32. “It was a scary thing.”
Her mother later moved out of her home in search of more privacy, Naomi said. Since then, she and the rest of the Alexis family have been silent.Her mother later moved out of her home in search of more privacy, Naomi said. Since then, she and the rest of the Alexis family have been silent.
Earlier this month, Naomi agreed to meet a Post reporter for an interview at a coffee shop. She said she felt it was time to talk about her brother and the mental health issues his killings raised. Aaron had been depressed, sleepless and hearing voices in the weeks before the shooting, but hadn’t lost his security clearance. This month, Naomi agreed to meet a Post reporter for an interview at a coffee shop. She said she felt it was time to talk about her brother and the mental health issues his killings raised. Aaron had been depressed, sleepless and hearing voices in the weeks before the shooting, but hadn’t lost his security clearance.
On the morning of the interview, Naomi cancelled and offered to talk by phone. Eventually, her willingness to answer questions was reduced to a few e-mails, texts, and very brief phone calls. On the morning of the interview, Naomi cancelled and offered to talk by phone. Eventually, her willingness to answer questions was reduced to a few e-mails, texts and very brief phone calls.
There are an increasing number of families grappling with the fallout of a mass killing committed by one of their own. According to a Texas State University study that examined the nation’s “active shooter events” — in which one or more persons killed or tried to kill “multiple” people, including at least one unrelated person — the number of these shootings went from about one every other month between 2000 and 2008 to more than one per month between 2009 and 2012, or almost 16 a year. In 2013, there were 15 mass shootings, said the study, which was posted on the FBI’s web site. There are an increasing number of families grappling with the fallout of a mass killing committed by one of their own. According to a Texas State University study that examined the nation’s “active shooter events” — in which one or more persons killed or tried to kill “multiple” people, including at least one unrelated person — the number of these shootings went from about one every other month between 2000 and 2008 to more than one per month between 2009 and 2012, or almost 16 a year. In 2013, there were 15 mass shootings, said the study, which was posted on the FBI’s Web site.
Naomi Alexis’s reluctance to speak mirrors the response of the family of Seung Hui-Cho, the Virginia Tech gunman who killed 32 people before shooting himself in 2007. After their son’s rampage, the Chos released a statement expressing their deep sorrow, but never gave a media interview. (The Chos, however, did speak to a panel appointed by Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) to investigate the Virginia Tech shootings.) Naomi Alexis’s reluctance to speak mirrors the response of the family of Seung-Hui Cho, the Virginia Tech gunman who killed 32 people before shooting himself in 2007. After their son’s rampage, the Chos released a statement expressing their deep sorrow, but never gave a media interview. (The Chos did speak to a panel appointed by Gov. Timothy M. Kaine [D] to investigate the Virginia Tech shootings.)
Wade Smith, the North Carolina attorney who helped Cho’s immigrant parents and his Princeton-educated sister Sun-Kyung Cho craft their public statement, said media outlets have continuously asked for interviews with the family, but he’s turned them down at the daughter’s request. Wade Smith, the North Carolina attorney who helped Cho’s immigrant parents and his Princeton-educated sister Sun-Kyung Cho craft their public statement, said media outlets have continuously asked for interviews with the family, but he has turned them down at the daughter’s request.
Sometimes, Smith asked Sun-Kyung Chohow her parents were faring, because they’d told him they’d live in “total darkness” forever. Sometimes, Smith asked Sun-Kyung Cho how her parents were faring, because they had told him they would live in “total darkness” forever.
“The daughter would say they were doing about the same. We never went any further than that,” said Smith, who assisted pro bono. “I think the sister has managed somehow to move on with her life.”“The daughter would say they were doing about the same. We never went any further than that,” said Smith, who assisted pro bono. “I think the sister has managed somehow to move on with her life.”
Some parents of high-profile shooters do speak in the wake of the killings.Some parents of high-profile shooters do speak in the wake of the killings.
Peter Lanza, the father of Adam Lanza, who shot his mother and 26 first-graders and educators at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., gave a lengthy interview to the New Yorker’s Andrew Solomon.Peter Lanza, the father of Adam Lanza, who shot his mother and 26 first-graders and educators at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., gave a lengthy interview to the New Yorker’s Andrew Solomon.
“How much do I beat on myself about the fact that he’s my son?” said Lanza, who contacted Solomon as the first anniversary of the shooting approached. “A lot.”“How much do I beat on myself about the fact that he’s my son?” said Lanza, who contacted Solomon as the first anniversary of the shooting approached. “A lot.”
Peter Rodger, the father of Elliot Rodger, the 22-year-old who in May killed six people and injured 13 others near the University of California Santa Barbara campus, agreed to an interview with ABC’s Barbara Walters in late June and with the Post in August. Peter Rodger, the father of Elliot Rodger, the 22-year-old who in May killed six people and injured 13 others near the University of California at Santa Barbara campus, agreed to an interview with ABC’s Barbara Walters in late June and with the Post in August.
“I felt it was my duty to put out Elliot’s story and tackle the mental health element,” explained Rodger, 49, whose son made a series of chilling videos and wrote a lengthy manifesto before the killing spree and took his own life at the end of it. “I felt it was my duty to put out Elliot’s story and tackle the mental health element,” explained Rodger, 49, whose son made a series of chilling videos and wrote a lengthy manifesto before the rampage and took his own life at the end of it.
Since the attacks, Rodger has launched a Web site, Askforhelp.org, which provides information on mental health organizations, and offers readers a place to share their own stories about their hurdles in tackling mental health.
Rodger, who directs commercials, told the Post he often wonders if other parents of shooters experience what he goes through.Rodger, who directs commercials, told the Post he often wonders if other parents of shooters experience what he goes through.
“I think about them a lot, because I am sure they’re in hell,” he said. “I understand other families are in absolute turmoil and feel the terrible guilt that we feel collectively. There’s not many of us — we’re victims as well.”“I think about them a lot, because I am sure they’re in hell,” he said. “I understand other families are in absolute turmoil and feel the terrible guilt that we feel collectively. There’s not many of us — we’re victims as well.”
Since the attacks, Rodger launched a web site, Askforhelp.org, which provides information on mental health organizations, and offers a publishing space for readers to share their own stories about their hurdles tackling mental health.
Michael Stone, a Columbia University professor of clinical psychiatry and expert on mass shootings, said he wishes more families of mass killers would speak publicly, offering their insights into what triggered the violence.
He’s especially interested in Robert and Arlene Holmes, the parents of James Holmes, a neuroscience graduate student who shot and killed 12 people and injured dozens of others at a movie theater in Aurora, Colo., in 2012. Arlene has worked as a registered nurse, and Robert has three degrees in math and statistics and has been a senior scientist at a financial services company.
“They come across as upper-middle class people who would have something intelligent to say,” Stone said.
But the Holmes’ attorney told the Post that the couple is declining all media requests for now.
Before she bowed out of doing a formal interview, Naomi Alexis expressed hope that organizations such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness receive adequate funding and that police and government agencies “do a better job of responding to the symptoms of crises.”Before she bowed out of doing a formal interview, Naomi Alexis expressed hope that organizations such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness receive adequate funding and that police and government agencies “do a better job of responding to the symptoms of crises.”
“Mental illness has a tremendous impact on the people who live with and care for its sufferers. Mental illness isn’t a weakness,” Naomi wrote in an e-mail. “Allowing it to consume you and negatively impact your life and the lives of the people around you is. Diagnosis, treatment and maintenance should not be done in shame or secret.”“Mental illness has a tremendous impact on the people who live with and care for its sufferers. Mental illness isn’t a weakness,” Naomi wrote in an e-mail. “Allowing it to consume you and negatively impact your life and the lives of the people around you is. Diagnosis, treatment and maintenance should not be done in shame or secret.”
She said she hopes the families of her brother’s victims are healing: “The grief I feel for their suffering is palpable. The guilt, at times, paralyzing.” She said she hopes the families of her brother’s victims are healing.
Correction: An earlier version of this story said the Navy Yard is in Southwest Washington. It is located in Southeast Washington. “The grief I feel for their suffering is palpable. The guilt, at times, paralyzing.”
Jennifer Jenkins contributed to this story.Jennifer Jenkins contributed to this story.