Chattanooga Death Toll Rises to Five

His family said in a statement issued Saturday through a lawyer that Abdulazeez had suffered from depression for many years and “was not the son we knew and loved”.

“They do not know of anything else to explain it”, said the representative, who has been involved with the family since the shootings.

The report said Abdulazeez, who had white powder on his nose when he was stopped, told the officer he also had sniffed powdered caffeine.

The mother of one of the Marines slain in Tennessee Thursday visited the memorial garden at the metro Atlanta high school that her son attended. They have been identified as Lance Cpl.

Hailey Bureau, 25, recalled sitting next to Abdulazeez in high school because their last names were close alphabetically. Squire Wells of Cobb, Ga. “We have collected numerous sealed letters and items to keep forever”.

The FBI is heading a “national security investigation” into the shooting, according to Attorney General Loretta Lynch. It is not unusual for federal agents to temporarily detain individuals found at a location where there is potential evidence in a criminal investigation.

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.

Other signs emerged Friday that Abdulazeez and his four sisters had grown up in a troubled household, afflicted by marital strife and debt.

Bassam Issa, the president of the Islamic Society of Greater Chattanooga, said Abdulazeez’s father told him he felt blindsided by the attack.

A family spokesman said Abdulazeez, 24, suffered mental health problems since his early teen years and also fought drug and alcohol abuse. Mr Ali, one of the speakers, railed against Abdulazeez as a “murderer” who committed a “cowardly and cruel” act. He continued to text Abdulazeez that evening and into Thursday but did not get a reply.

Speaking on condition of anonymity to the Reuters news agency, the 24-year-old suspect’s friend said: “I didn’t see it as a hint at the time, but it may have been his way of telling me something”.

Issa said he had not spoken to Abdulazeez since that call.

An officer also noted that Abdulazeez had irritated nostrils and a white, powdery substance under his nose.

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

The mass shooting in Tennessee that resulted in the deaths of four Marines – including one from Massachusetts – and a Navy sailor is the realization of a growing threat that authorities nationwide have been warning about: a lone gunman who managed to stay off the radar of federal authorities targeting military installations. He did his best to spread hatred and division.

Kingery said funeral arrangements for Wells are still pending.

Abdulazeez’s friends, who asked not to be identified for fear of a backlash, said he was upset about the 2014 Israeli bombing campaign in Gaza and the deteriorating civil war in Syria. He saw his friend at the mosque last weekend, as they came to pray and as part of the services to celebrate Ramadan. He said his son took pride on taking care of the people under him.

Governors in at least six USA states have authorized the arming of personnel at National Guard facilities following the Thursday attacks.

An FBI investigator investigates the scene of a shooting outside a military recruiting center on Friday, July 17, 2015, in Chattanooga, Tenn.

“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. “We’ve got to understand that we have people in our country that want to harm our military”.

Scott announced the order Saturday.

A Marine wounded during the terrorist attack on a recruiting center in Chattanooga has died, raising the death toll to 5. The shooter was killed by police.

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