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Brett Daniel Shehadey
Special Contributor for In Homeland Security

At least 13 people have been confirmed killed from an attack by multiple assailants at the US Navy Yard in Washington, D.C. The attack began at 8 PM Sunday.

Officials do not have any substantial motives at this time. It has been labeled a “rampage” by the media and a “mass killing” by the President.

Aaron Alexis, one of the attackers, was shot and killed. Alexis was in his thirties, used an ID of a Rollie Chance, who was placed on leave and who claims no affiliation or knowledge of any Aaron Alexis.

Aaron Alexis was a Navy reservist with a rank of Aviation Electronics Mate 3rd Class from 2007-2011. For the last two years he held an arrest record- one involving discharging a firearm in public. He was found carrying an AR-15 semiautomatic rifle, a shotgun and a pistol.

Initially, there were reports of multiple shooters. First there was another attacker pinned inside and was thought to be at large. Witnesses reported one attacker in olive military fatigues and another dressed in blue. Authorities on base are searching room to room.

The Navy Yard is home to the Naval Seas Systems Command and 3,000 military and civilian staff. Admiral Jonathon Greenert, Chief of Naval Operations, was moved unharmed from the facility according to safety protocols during the attack.

Just another mass killing? Certainly any reply is speculation at this point. The FBI has taken lead in the active investigation. Some have postulated this was some kind of inside attack or perhaps a disgruntled employ with access. It has specifically been downplayed as any terrorist event. According to USA Today, there have been over 221cases of mass killings over the last seven years.

Last update 5:39 PM ET