U.S. leaders are offering prayers for the nation following a shooting
at the Navy Yard in southeast Washington, D.C., that left 13 dead and
about a dozen more injured.
“I join people of all faiths across our community in praying for the
people killed and wounded in the attack at the Navy Yard in Washington,
D.C,” said Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl, adding that he is also praying for
first responders and for family and friends of the victims.
“While many facts are still unknown, our most powerful tool right now is
prayer,” the Washington cardinal said in a Sept. 16 statement. “The
Church always calls us to prayer, particularly in moments of crisis. It
is what we do best because it is what the Lord asks us to do.”
At about 8:20 a.m. on Sept. 16, numerous shots were fired at the D.C.
facility, which contains the headquarters of the Naval Sea Systems
Command.
Washington D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier confirmed that at least 13
people were killed in the shooting, including one shooting suspect,
identified by the FBI as 34-year-old Aaron Alexis, a military contractor
from Texas. Authorities are asking the public for help in finding more
information on Alexis and the shooting.
Police initially said that they were looking for two more potential
suspects, but later said they had found and cleared one of the
individuals, leaving the other possible suspect at large.
Washington Mayor Vincent Gray told reporters that the motive for the shooting is unclear.
The base and surrounding public schools were placed on lockdown for
several hours, according to the Department of the Navy and D.C. city
officials.
As the nation confronts “yet another mass shooting,” President Barack
Obama said in a Sept. 16 press conference, “we send our thoughts and
prayers to all at the Navy Yard who’ve been touched by this tragedy.”
“We thank them for their service. We stand with the families of those
who’ve been harmed. They’re going to need our love and support.”
The president said authorities are investigating the shooting in order
to “make sure whoever carried out this cowardly act is held responsible”
and prevent similar acts of violence.
Military Archbishop Timothy M. Broglio said he was “shocked and deeply saddened” by the news.
Noting that he has “often visited and celebrated the Eucharist” at the
base's chapel, he added that he “prayed for the victims, the wounded,
and their families at the noon Mass at the Archdiocesan Pastoral
Center.”
Archbishop Broglio urged society to “restore the notion of respect for
life into the fabric of the Nation,” in order to prevent such acts in
the future.
“When the uniqueness of the human person created in the image and
likeness of God is universally recognized, the possibility of a mass
shooting is more remote,” he said.