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Chattanooga shooting suspect identified as Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez

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Photograph posted to social media shows the aftermath of a shooting at a military recruitment center in Chattanooga (April Grimmett/Facebook)

Citing law enforcement sources, CBS News reported Thursday that Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez is the name of the suspected gunman who shot at two military-related facilities in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Original story continues below…

Five people were killed on Thursday including a suspected gunman who opened fire at two military-related facilities in Chattanooga, Tennessee in an attack local officials described as an act of domestic terrorism.

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The other four killed were Marines at a Naval Reserve Center, a military official said in Washington, DC. The suspected shooter, who has not been identified, is believed to have lived in the area, local police said.

“We are treating this as an act of domestic terrorism,” said Bill Killian, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Tennessee, adding that no official determination of the nature of the crime had yet been made.

Three others were wounded in the attacks that began at about 10:45 a.m. local time and ended about 30 minutes later.

Chattanooga Police Chief Fred Fletcher said at a joint news conference the gunman acted “brutally and brazenly.”

Witnesses and local media reports said the gunman, driving an open-top Ford Mustang, fired at two locations including a military recruiting center and a U.S. Navy Reserve center about six miles (10 km) apart. Witnesses said they heard scores of shots.

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A White House spokesman said President Barack Obama had been told about the shooting.

“The President has been briefed by his national security staff on the Chattanooga shooting, and will continue to get updates as warranted,” said spokesman Eric Schultz.

Lockdowns had been put in place at businesses, a college and other facilities near the shooting sites.

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A witness at a glass company near the Navy center said the shooting there starting at about 11 a.m. (1500 GMT).

“We have heard multiple shots fired,” said Marilyn Hutcheson of Binswanger Glass installation and repair service.

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Near the recruiting center, a witness said the gunman appeared to be calm.

“Everybody was at a standstill and as soon as he pulled away everyone scrabbled trying to make sure everyone was OK,” said Erica Wright, who works two doors down from the recruiting center.

The city along the Tennessee River is in the southeastern section of the state just north of the Georgia border. Just over 173,000 people live there, according to a 2013 estimate from the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Watch live coverage via WRCBtv, below:

WRCBtv.com | Chattanooga News, Weather

UPDATE (5:48 p.m. EDT): President Barack Obama issued a statement addressing the attack, calling it “heartbreaking” and urging calm until all the details are known.

USA Today said, “The president said he wanted to extend ‘the deepest sympathies of the American people’ to the four Marines and their families, and asked all Americans to pray for them.”

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The shooter has been conclusively identified as 24-year-old Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez, who was arrested for driving under the influence in April of this year.

UPDATE (6:41 p.m.): Reuters reported that U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch is requesting that the FBI conduct a national security investigation regarding the attack.

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“The U.S. Attorney’s office and department prosecutors are also actively involved,” Lynch said in a statement. “In the days ahead, we intend to work with our partners in law enforcement and the intelligence community to ensure that the American people are protected and that justice is served.”

UPDATE (8:29 p.m.): CNN released a photo of a woman being led away from Abdulazeez’ home in handcuffs.

CNN also reported that Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton released a statement that said, in part, “”I just want to say a word about how tragic and regrettable it is that we lost four Marines in an act of senseless violence — what is being called another instance of domestic terrorism. It’s terrible when we lose Marines anywhere in the world, but to lose four in Chattanooga, Tennessee, is just heartbreaking.”

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She continued, “”Obviously, my heart goes out to their families and to their colleagues, and I hope that we can find a way to stop this kind of violence that is stalking our children, people in Bible study and people who wear the uniform of our country.”


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