Navy sailor fatally shoots 2 civilian workers, injures another, before killing himself at Pearl Harbor
U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Robert Chadwick said the deceased shooter was a sailor from the USS Columbia, a submarine that was in Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard dry dock for maintenance.
All the victims, two dead and another in stable condition, were male civilian Department of Defense employees.
Witnesses are still being interviewed, Chadwick said at a news conference outside the main gate of Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.
“This is certainly a tragedy for everyone here, and our hearts go out to the families and everyone involved,” he said. “This is going to be fully investigated, and we’ll be looking at every aspect, including lessons learned and (the potential for) additional security.”
He said the shooting affected many people on the base, and support services would be made available to personnel.
Base officials said an Emergency Family Assistance Center has been opened at 4827 Bougainville Drive
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Mayor Kirk Caldwell separately issued a statement saying, “We share in the sorrow of today’s tragic shooting at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and are thankful for the actions of our federal and state partners, as well as the city’s first responders who rushed to the scene, which includes personnel from HPD, HFD, and emergency services. The Medical Examiner’s Office is assisting the military with its investigation, and if additional city resources are needed, we stand ready to provide additional help.”
UPDATE: 5:33 p.m.
Two of the victims in the Pearl Harbor shipyard shooting have died and a third is in stable condition, authorities said. The shooter was an active duty sailor who killed himself.
The victims were all male.
4:57 p.m.
A U.S. Navy sailor “shot and injured three Department of Defense civilian workers before shooting themself” at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard this afternoon, base authorities confirmed.
“Officials at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam report the shooting incident at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard has been secured. One person is confirmed dead. The shooter has been identified as a U.S. Sailor,” base officials said in a series of tweets.
“The sailor reportedly shot and injured three Department of Defense civilian workers before shooting themself. The incident took place this afternoon at the vicinity of the shipyard’s Dry Dock 2. The base is no longer in lockdown.
“Base security and Navy investigative services are currently investigating. The names of the victims will not be released until the next of kin have been notified. #PearlHarbor.”
The incident began at about 2:30 p.m.
4:50 p.m.
Hawaii Gov. David Ige says the White House has offered federal assistant as authorities respond to a shooting with multiple victims at the Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam shipyard.
“I join in solidarity with the people of Hawai‘i as we express our heartbreak over this tragedy and concern for those affected by the shooting. Details are still emerging as security forces at Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam investigate. The White House has reached out to offer assistance from federal agencies, and the state is standing by to assist where necessary,” Ige said in a statement.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE
Multiple law enforcement agencies have converged on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam after a shooting on the base with multiple victims at the shipyard.
Authorities have not confirmed reports of deaths, including the shooter, however a city spokesman said “the city’s Medical Examiner’s Office is working in conjunction with the U.S. Navy, which has the lead on the investigation.”
The Queen’s Medical Center said they received one male patient in guarded condition.
Honolulu Emergency Medical Service spokeswoman Shayne Enright said they treated and transported patients but wouldn’t provide more details, according to the Associated Press.
“JBPHH security forces have responded to a reported shooting at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard. The incident occurred at approximately 2:30 p.m. Due to the ongoing security incident, access/gates to #JBPHH are closed. We will update when we have further information,” base officials said in a tweet.
Reports from people inside the base about an hour later said it was no longer an active shooting situation.
The Nimitz gate was reopened shortly before 4 p.m. The base tweeted at 4:28 p.m. that “All gates at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam have re-opened. The area around Drydock 2 remains closed. Our thoughts go out to those affected by today’s events. Residents may continue to see increased military police as a precaution at Army installations.”
Base employees received a message before 4:40 p.m. saying, “All clear with the exception of the shipyard … Resume normal operations with the exception of the shipyard.”
Three public schools in the area, including two on base, also went on lockdown, according to the state Department of Education, but most students had left the campuses because the school day was over when the the shooting incident was reported. The affected schools are Mokulele Elementary and Hickam Elementary on base, and Nimitz Elementary off base but nearby.
Dismissal times for the three schools today were between 12:45 and 1:10 p.m. However, some students and staff were still on campus after these times when the lock down was instituted, DOE said. The school lockdowns were lifted before 4:15 p.m.
Chuck Anthony, spokesman for Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam said that there is “quite a bit of information. Some of it is not confirmed. Some of it is conflicting.”
He said he will put out a statement soon.
But he confirmed there was an active shooter situation and the base is on lockdown.
Honolulu Police Department dispatch that military authorities are handling the situation.
FBI agents are on scene assisting Naval Criminal Investigative Service.
Honolulu Emergency Services and Honolulu Fire Department were also dispatched.
JBPHH security forces have responded to a reported shooting at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard. The incident occurred at approximately 2:30 p.m. Due to the ongoing security incident, access/gates to #JBPHH are closed. We will update when we have further information. pic.twitter.com/6uZulGOUTx
— Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam (@JointBasePHH) December 5, 2019
HFD was called to the scene at 2:37 p.m. and sent six units with 22 personnel. The first unit was on scene at 2:44 p.m.
The city issued an alert saying that Pearl Harbor Gates are on closed “due to an on-going investigation,” which is causing heavy traffic on Kamehameha and Nimitz highways.
UPDATE: All passengers in JBPHH should board Route PH4. TheBus personnel will assist riders with free transfers at Kalihi Transit Center to all neighborhoods served by PH Expresses.
— Transportation HNL (@hnldts) December 5, 2019
Vehicles were backed up a half mile at the closed gate, where a security guard was armed with an M4 rifle. Three unmarked HPD units with their lights flashing entered the base at 3:50 p.m.
The shooting comes three days before the 78th anniversary of the Dec. 7, 1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
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This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
Honolulu Star-Advertiser reporters Leila Fujimori, Timothy Hurley, William Cole, Dan Nakaso and Andrew Gomes contributed to this report.