Tennessee Suspect Texted Friend Link to Koranic Verse Before Attack

“We have collected numerous sealed letters and items to keep forever”.

In Washington, Defence Secretary Ashton Carter has asked for recommendations on how to “ensure the safety of service members and civilians at military installations”, Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook said. He continued to text Abdulazeez that evening and into Thursday but did not get a reply.

Smith was shot three times at the Navy Operational Support Center (NOSC) by Abdulazeez. “But I can’t imagine it drove him to this”, said the friend who received the text message.

Ed Reinhold, the special agent in charge of the regional FBI headquarters, said the gunman wore a “load-bearing vest” which allowed him to carry extra ammunition.

There was evidence that he came from a troubled family. “Muslims are actually peaceful”, a 17-year-old Yasmeen Abdulazeez told the Chattanooga Times Free Press in 2010.

The suspect’s friend said he thought nothing of the text message at the time, but now wonders if it was a clue to Thursday’s rampage in Chattanooga, which has re-ignited concerns about the radicalisation of young Muslim men. “However, the FBI investigation into his activities while overseas and the nature and extent of his affiliation with FTOs (foreign terrorist organizations) is ongoing”. Ali, one of the speakers, railed against alleged shooter Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez as a “murderer” who committed a “cowardly and cruel” act.

One of the childhood friends said Mohammod’s family life was good and called it “a happy home”.

Three other people were injured, including the sailor who the Navy said had died on Saturday.

Hours before the rampage, he texted a link to an Islamic verse to a friend, Reuters reported. He described his existence as a “prison” of monotony and routine.

Abdulazeez told the officer that he had crushed and snorted caffeine pills, and that he had been drinking and smoking marijuana with friends.

This April 2015 booking photo released by the Hamilton County Sheriffs Office shows a man identified as Mohammad Youssduf Adbulazeer after being detained for a driving offense.

Supporters gather for an interfaith memorial service for the…

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — As the death toll rose to five, a handful of governors ordered National Guardsmen to take up arms in response to the brazen attacks on two Tennessee military sites.

After returning from his trip, Abdulazeez reportedly purchased three assault rifles on the internet and used them for target practice.

The Kuwait-born gunman, who was killed by police, was not under investigation and was not on the radar of federal law enforcement, officials have said. “I don’t know”. Through high school and college, he did a better job sometimes than others staying with it, ” said the spokesman.

“I can’t recall him getting mad even when he got beat”, he said.

Four of the Marines were killed on the day of the attack and Petty Officer Smith became the fifth victim when he passed away from his gunshot wounds to the liver and colon early on Saturday morning.

“After the recent shooting in Chattanooga, it has become clear that our military personnel must have the ability to defend themselves against these type of attacks on our own soil”, Texas Governor Greg Abbott said.

Scott announced the order Saturday.

On Friday, General Ray Odierno, Army chief of staff, said the Army was reviewing security at recruiting centers.

Four United States marines and a sailor were killed when 24-year-old Mohammad Youssuf Abdulazeez opened fire on two military centers in Chattanooga on Thursday, before dying himself in a shootout with police.

Abdulazeez kept police at bay before he was eventually shot.