The Tennessee gunman, shot dead by the police, has been identified as 24-year old Mohamed Yousef Abdul Aziz.
Of the four US Marines killed in these two attacks on military locations in Tennessee area only one has been publicly identified. Marine Gunnery Sergeant Thomas Sullivan, 40 years old, who had worked in the past as a Marine recruiter. He had done two tours of duty in Iraq and is apparently from the Springfield, Massachusetts area.
This case continues to be treated as an act of terror until terrorism is ruled out. The Department of Homeland Security says it is enhancing the security posture at certain government facilities at an abundance of caution. The motive remains unknown but the target seems to be military installations. Authorities on the ground in Tennesse have made it clear they don’t have anything to connect this shooter to international terrorism. For example the shooter wasn’t on any watch list and they do believe he allegedly travelled to the Middle East and may have stayed there for some time over the last couple of years. Authorities also know that Abdul Aziz was Muslim and the attack occurred at the end of the holy month of Ramadan and all of that put together with the fact that this summer has been a season of threats of the presence of ISIS in the US, this adds up to more security at certain government installations.
The US Muslims Public Affairs Council released a statement condemning the attack. It reads in part, “Regardless of the intentions or motives behind the act, the attacks are cowardly and despicable.”