NEW YORK
Four Marines and a gunman were killed Thursday in two shootings at separate U.S. Navy facilities in Tennessee, according to authorities.
Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez, 24, reportedly opened fire at a Navy reserve center in the city of Chattanooga late Thursday then drove to a military recruiting center about 10 kilometers (6 miles) away and opened fire there.
The deceased were shot at the Naval reserve center location, according to CNN, citing city spokesperson Enora Moss.
Abdulazeez was killed during a shootout with police at the second facility.
"Today is a nightmare for the city of Chattanooga," Mayor Andy Berke said.
President Barack Obama told reporters at the White House that the U.S. would carry out a “thorough and prompt” investigation into the “heartbreaking” incident.
“When you have an attack on a U.S. military facility, then we have to make sure that we have all the information necessary to make an assessment in terms of how this attack took place, and what further precautions we can take in the future,” he said.
In a statement, Defense Secretary Ash Carter said that the Pentagon “will continue to work with local law enforcement as they investigate this heinous crime and will support our military families in their time of grief."
Investigators have not determined whether the shooting was an act of terrorism or a criminal act, FBI special agent Ed Reinhold told reporters.
U.S. Attorney Bill Killian earlier told reporters that authorities were treating the shooting as an "act of domestic terrorism."
Three people including an officer were also wounded, one of whom was in critical condition, Moss said.
