Hubbry Logo
2015 Chattanooga shootings2015 Chattanooga shootingsMain
Open search
2015 Chattanooga shootings
Community hub
2015 Chattanooga shootings
logo
8 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
2015 Chattanooga shootings
2015 Chattanooga shootings
2015 Chattanooga shootings
View on Wikipedia
from Wikipedia

2015 Chattanooga shootings
Map of the shootings in Chattanooga, Tennessee
LocationMilitary installations in Chattanooga, Tennessee, US
DateJuly 16, 2015 (2015-07-16)
c. 10:45 – c. 11:15 a.m.[1]
TargetU.S. military recruitment and reserve centers
Attack type
Mass shooting, mass murder, spree shooting, lone-wolf terrorism
Weapons
Deaths6 (including the perpetrator)[5]
Injured2
PerpetratorMuhammad Youssef Abdulazeez[a]
MotiveIslamist terrorism, inspired by foreign terrorist organizations[6]

On July 16, 2015, Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez opened fire on two military installations in Chattanooga, Tennessee, United States. He first committed a drive-by shooting at a recruiting center, then traveled to a U.S. Navy Reserve center and continued firing, where he was killed by police in a gunfight.[citation needed] Four Marines died on the spot. A Navy sailor, a Marine recruiter, and a police officer were wounded; the sailor died from his injuries two days later.

On December 16, following an investigation, former Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) director James B. Comey said that the shootings were "motivated by foreign terrorist organization propaganda."

Shootings

[edit]

The shootings began shortly after 10:30 a.m. at the Armed Forces Career Center in a strip mall located on Lee Highway. The Center recruited personnel for branches of the United States military, including the U.S. Army, the U.S. Air Force, and the Tennessee National Guard. There, Abdulazeez, using his AK-47,[7] fired 30 to 45 shots[8] into the office from inside a silver rental Ford Mustang convertible,[9] wounding a U.S. Marine. He then escaped and led members of the Chattanooga Police Department on a seven-mile pursuit.[10] At the time of the first shooting, only seven people, including the wounded Marine, were inside the recruiting center.[8]

Abdulazeez drove seven miles (11 km) to a U.S. Navy Reserve center on Amnicola Highway in Chattanooga,[11][12] where he rammed his vehicle through a security gate.[10] He drove to one of the center's buildings, where the Inspector-Instructor staff of Mike Battery, 3rd Battalion, 14th Marines and sailors were working.[citation needed]

Abdulazeez first fired at it, then charged inside and continued firing, fatally wounding a U.S. Navy sailor. Abdulazeez then exited the building through the back and entered a fenced motor pool area, where he shot several Marines. Three to five minutes after the second shooting began,[13] he reentered the building, where he fired upon responding police officers. He was eventually fatally shot by five police officers (Officers Keven Flanagan, Jeff Lancaster, Sean O'Brien, Lucas Timmons, Grover Wilson III) outside the facility.[13][14][15][16][17][18]

Aftermath

[edit]
Marine and Chattanooga shooting victim receives Purple Heart Medal

The shootings spanned a thirty-minute period.[1] Around 100 rounds were fired by Abdulazeez.[19] Lock-downs were put into place near the sites of the shootings.[20]

After the shootings, officials said that Abdulazeez was carrying a semi-automatic rifle and a 9mm handgun. A Saiga-12 12-gauge semi-automatic shotgun was also recovered from his car.[21][3][4][13][20] He was also wearing a vest that could hold extra ammunition.[4] An AR-15 semi-automatic rifle was seized at Abdulazeez's home by police.[22]

Investigators discovered a 9mm Glock handgun that may have been privately owned by one of the slain Marines and are determining if it was used against Abdulazeez during the shootings. It was also determined that the reserve center's commanding officer used a personal firearm against Abdulazeez.[14][23][24]

Victims

[edit]

Five people, excluding the gunman, died in the shootings. They included four U.S. Marines who died at the scene and one U.S. Navy sailor who died at a hospital two days later. All of them were shot at the U.S. Navy Reserve center, one inside a building and the other four at a nearby motor pool area. The victims all attempted to distract the gunman, returned fire, and assisted people in climbing a fence to safety. Some of the victims died while returning fire at Abdulazeez, providing cover for a larger group of potential victims who were escaping over a fence. They were identified as:[16][17]

Name Age Hometown Branch Rank
Carson A. Holmquist 25 Grantsburg, Wisconsin Marine Corps Sergeant
Randall Smith 26 Paulding, Ohio Navy Logistics specialist second class
Thomas J. Sullivan 40 Springfield, Massachusetts Marine Corps Gunnery sergeant
Squire K. "Skip" Wells 21 Marietta, Georgia Marine Corps Lance corporal
David A. Wyatt 37 Russellville, Arkansas Marine Corps Staff sergeant

In addition, two other people were wounded. They were Sergeant DeMonte Cheeley,[25] a Marine recruiter who was shot in the leg, treated, and released; and Dennis Pedigo Jr., a police sergeant who was shot in the ankle.[12][26]

Perpetrator

[edit]

Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez[a] (September 5, 1990 – July 16, 2015), a resident of Hixson, Tennessee, was identified as the gunman.

Background

[edit]

Abdulazeez, a naturalized US citizen, was born in Kuwait on September 5, 1990,[1][29][30][31][32] to Palestinian-Jordanian parents.[33] Abdulazeez held a temporary Jordanian passport as a travel document (commonly issued to Palestinians by the Jordanian government); Jordanian authorities emphasized that Abdulazeez was not a Jordanian citizen.[32]

Abdulazeez migrated to the US with his family in 1996[34] and became a US citizen in 2003.[35] According to The Washington Post, both of Abdulazeez's parents were self-described in their divorce proceedings "as natives of 'the State of Palestine'" and they "maintained a strict, conservative Muslim lifestyle."[36][37] According to a law enforcement official, Abdulazeez's father had been placed on a terrorist watchlist and investigated many years before the shootings for giving money to an organization with possible terrorist connections. The father was questioned while on a trip abroad but was eventually removed from the watchlist. He was not charged with any crime and the information gained in that investigation revealed nothing about his son.[12] During the Second Intifada, Abdulazeez, then fifteen, traveled with his father to Jamma'in, the village in the West Bank where the father was born, with the goal of acquiring a Palestinian ID.[38]

Abdulazeez graduated from Red Bank High School.[30] He earned an electrical engineering degree from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in 2012[31] and learned to manage electrical power systems as an intern with the Tennessee Valley Authority.[30] On May 20, 2013, he began working as an engineer at the Perry Nuclear Generating Station in North Perry, Ohio, but was let go ten days later after failing a drug test.[39][40] According to a spokesperson for FirstEnergy, which runs the station, Abdulazeez worked and received general training at an administrative office building only, and did not have access to sensitive information.[41] In the three months prior to the shootings, Abdulazeez was employed with Superior Essex as a supervisor for its Franklin office.[42][43][44]

Abdulazeez frequented a gun range with his co-workers.[35]

Mental instability and substance abuse

[edit]

Abdulazeez had drug and alcohol problems, and his family tried to place him in a rehabilitation program. The New York Times reported that limits on the family's health insurance coverage "thwarted their plan to have him go into rehab."[citation needed] The investigation after the shooting revealed that Abdulazeez "had serious psychological problems."[45]

According to a family representative, Abdulazeez was abusing sleeping pills, opioids, painkillers, and marijuana along with alcohol. He had also been thousands of dollars in debt and was planning to file for bankruptcy.[9] In 2012 or 2013, Abdulazeez began therapy for his drug and alcohol abuse.[46] He had also received treatment for depression and often stopped taking his medication.[47] Following the shootings, Abdulazeez's parents claimed that their son had been suffering from depression.[48][49] According to a source that was provided by CNN, Abdulazeez was suffering from bipolar disorder.[50]

Abdulazeez's travel and actions preceding the shooting

[edit]

Abdulazeez did not attract the attention of the FBI before the shootings.[51] Abdulazeez traveled to Jordan five times. His first trip was in 2003 and the last trip was between April and November 2014, when Abdulazeez visited a maternal uncle. This last visit was arranged by Abdulazeez's family, who wanted him to get away from friends they believed were bad influences on him. Abdulazeez also traveled to Kuwait in 2008.[50][52][37][53]

Accounts on the length of Abdulazeez's stay with his uncle vary, ranging from two to seven months.[33] Abdulazeez reportedly led a solitary life in Jordan.[33]

Abdulazeez's sole known previous contact with law enforcement was an April 20, 2015 arrest for driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI).[54][55] A family spokesman said that the arrest triggered a severe increase in his depression.[56]

After his 2014 visit to Jordan, Abdulazeez told friends that Jordan, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia ought to have sent more help to Hamas during the 2014 Israel–Gaza conflict. They also noted a change in his behavior and that he made critical statements against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).[46][57][50][58]

In the months before the shooting, Abdulazeez regularly attended Friday prayers at a mosque.[30] and was thought to have written a blog post in which he urged study of the Quran to give meaning to life.[36][59] According to his family, Abdulazeez had searched online about martyrdom, and had been wondering whether becoming a martyr would absolve him of his sins.[60][61] On July 20, several writings belonging to Abdulazeez, dating as far back as 2013, were discovered. In them, he wrote about having suicidal thoughts after losing his job due to his drug use and his desire to "becom[e] a martyr".[9][45][61] Authorities searching his computer found that he owned CDs and had downloaded videos by al-Qaeda recruiter Anwar al-Awlaki.[62][63] An FBI spokesman stated that "[t]here are some pretty radicalized thoughts" in the writings.[64]

None of the writings laid out plans for an attack or spelled out a motive, however.[45][63] The motivation is surmised from the fact that on July 11, Abdulazeez bought ammunition at a Wal-Mart store. On July 13, he wrote long diary entries, describing life as a kind of prison and warning, "Don't be fooled by your desires, this life is short and bitter and the opportunity to submit to Allah may pass you by." He also wrote that people mistakenly thought that the Sahaba (companions of the Prophet) were priests "living in monasteries" but that this was untrue. The truth, he wrote, is that "[e]veryone one of them [sic] fought jihad for the sake of Allah. Everyone one of them [sic] had to make sacrifices in their lives."[60] Hours before the shooting, he texted an Islamic verse to a friend that read, "Whosoever shows enmity to a friend of mine, then I have declared war against him."[36][59][63]

Criminal investigation

[edit]
Battle crosses for fallen service members on stage during the memorial at McKenzie Arena at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga. (19979837504)

An official participating in the investigation told The New York Times there was no evidence that Abdulazeez was in contact with any social media recruiters working for ISIL, explaining, "This case appears to be much more like the old model, where he was interested in radical Islam and sought to learn more about it online by looking at videos and readings."[65]

The shooting was investigated by the FBI as a jihad case from the outset.[6] The Naval Criminal Investigative Service was also involved in the investigation.[66] On July 23, 2015, in the immediate aftermath of the attack, FBI special agent Ed Reinhold stated that the attack was being treated as the work of "a homegrown violent extremist" and that the FBI is exploring the idea that Abdulazeez was self-radicalized.[67] The following month, Secretary of Defense Ash Carter said that investigators might never be able to determine "what combination of disturbed mind, violent extremism and hateful ideology was at work."[68] In November 2015, FBI Director James B. Comey said, "We're still trying to make sure we understand Abdulazeez, his motivations and associations, in a really good way."[69]

On December 16, 2015, Comey said that the FBI investigation had concluded that "there is no doubt that [Abdulazeez] was inspired, motivated by foreign terrorist organization propaganda." Comey added that it was difficult to determine which specific terrorist group or groups inspired Abdulazeez.[6] On the same day, Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced that the Purple Heart would be conferred upon the victims of the shootings.[66]

According to professor Charles Kurzman, the shootings were part of a "shift away from large-scale elaborate attempts to use weapons of mass destruction or other high-profile plots — the hallmark of al-Qaida and its affiliates — toward a lower tech do-it-yourself strategy" propagated by ISIL and other groups.[67] President Barack Obama expressed similar thoughts in a December 2015 speech, saying:

The terrorist threat has evolved into a new phase. As we've become better at preventing complex, multifaceted attacks like 9/11, terrorists turned to less-complicated acts of violence like the mass shootings that are all too common in our society. It is this type of attack that we saw at Fort Hood in 2009, in Chattanooga earlier this year and now in San Bernardino.[6]

Reactions

[edit]

Leaders

[edit]
  • President Barack Obama called the event "heartbreaking" and publicly expressed his condolences to the families of the victims in a statement.[70] On July 21, he ordered all flags at the White House, federal buildings and U.S. embassies overseas to be flown at half-staff.[71]
  • Vice President Joe Biden, speaking at a memorial for the victims, expressed his condolences to their families and called the gunman a "perverted jihadist."[72]
  • Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus called the shootings "devastating and senseless" and offered his condolences to the families of the victims. He promised an investigation into future vulnerabilities.[73]
  • U.S. Marine Corps Major General Paul W. Brier, Commanding General of the 4th Marine Division, spoke at the nationally televised press conference held in Chattanooga on 22 July 2015. He praised the Marines and Sailors who risked their lives to help others and stop the gunman. “The legacy that day is one of valor.” [74] "'I can tell you that our Marines reacted the way you would expect,' the major general said. 'Rapidly going from room to room, they got their fellow Marines to safety. Once they had gotten to safety, some willingly ran back into the fight.'"[75][76]"'They will be missed but never forgotten,' Brier said of the four Marines and one Navy petty officer who died.”[77]
  • Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam said, "I join all Tennesseans in being both sickened and saddened by this."[78]
  • Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke called the shootings "a nightmare for the City of Chattanooga."[79]
  • Battery Commander Major Michael Abrams, speaking at the memorial service, expressed that he was "deeply proud" of how the marines and sailors responded to the shootings, saying, "In the chaos of that moment, they were selfless in their efforts to take care of one another, and they acted with unquestionable courage."[80]

Muslim organizations

[edit]

Muslim and mosque leaders across Tennessee condemned the shootings. Paul Galloway, representing the American Muslim Advisory Council, said that Muslims in Tennessee "express our deepest condolences to the victims and their families. Terrorists seek to divide our society, and we pray that all Americans will stand together united against their wanton violence and hatred."[81]

The National Executive Director of Council on American–Islamic Relations, Nihad Awad, said, "Such inexcusable acts of violence must be repudiated by Americans of all faiths and backgrounds."[82] The National Vice-President of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA stated, "While we do not yet know what motivated this man, we urge calm, defer to authorities to justly resolve this, and pray for the departed U.S. Marines."[83]

Security measures

[edit]

In the wake of the shootings, Defense Secretary Ashton Carter and Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson called for increased security measures at federal facilities out of caution.[84][85] On July 29, Carter released a two-page memorandum directing military commanders and civilian leaders to develop new security plans and measures, including "the option of additional armed personnel". He put an emphasis of added security at small, unguarded facilities such as the two military installations attacked by Abdulazeez.[86][87]

On August 15, during a speech at a memorial for the victims, he called for a review of domestic security procedures for military installations across the country.[68] On August 29, the Navy launched an official investigation looking into possible security changes, communications with law enforcement and emergency responders, and on-site personnel response. The investigation is headed by a twenty-person team, which submitted a 41-page report on September 26.[8][88][89] Though the Marine Corps ruled out arming recruiters as a security measure since most of their job is to interact with the public,[8] officials have begun developing other options.[90]

Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) announced his intention to introduce a bill that would end the ban on firearms being carried in military installations.[84] The Navy made plans to station armed guards at all 70 reserve centers not located on military bases and is also considering providing armed protection for recruiting centers.[91]

In August 2015, General Max Hastings of the Tennessee National Guard announced that he has made the decision to allow firearms carry permit holders carry their firearms while in uniform.[92] Tennessee State Representative Tilman Goins pointed out that many national guard members were under 21 years of age, and at that time, Tennessee did not issue permits to citizens under that age. Representative Goins wrote and passed legislation that would lower the carry permit age for national guard members and veterans, and active military who were 18 or older.[93]

On July 18, two days after the shootings, the governors of Florida, Texas, and Indiana ordered the arming of National Guardsmen at military offices and other facilities, along with the installation of bulletproof glass and more efficient video surveillance equipment.[94] Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Arkansas followed suit the next day.[95] Utah Governor Gary Herbert also announced that the state would "explore additional ways to protect our men and women serving in the Armed Forces". In 2014, Utah had passed legislation allowing soldiers at National Guard facilities to carry weapons.[84]

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

2015 Chattanooga shootings

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
The 2015 Chattanooga shootings were a terrorist attack on July 16, 2015, in which Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez, a 24-year-old naturalized U.S. citizen, carried out drive-by shootings at a military recruiting center and a Naval and Marine Corps Reserve Center in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Abdulazeez, armed with an AK-74 rifle and other firearms, killed four U.S. Marines and one Navy petty officer, wounded two service members, and was fatally shot by Chattanooga police after approximately 15 minutes of attacks across the two sites. The FBI classified the rampage as an act of terrorism inspired by a foreign terrorist organization, with evidence including Abdulazeez's online searches for jihadist guidance and consumption of extremist propaganda. Abdulazeez, born in to a Jordanian family and radicalized following a 2014 trip to the , had exhibited signs of Islamist , such as posting inspirational jihad quotes on and following an Al Qaeda-affiliated cleric online. Despite personal issues including drug abuse and concerns noted in some accounts, federal investigators determined the primary motivation stemmed from ideological alignment with global jihadist groups rather than solely domestic factors. The incident prompted policy changes, including the authorization of weapons for military recruiters on bases, and highlighted vulnerabilities in domestic efforts against homegrown .

The Incident

Sequence of Events

At approximately 10:45 a.m. CDT on July 16, 2015, Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez, aged 24, arrived in a rented silver Ford Mustang convertible at the Combined Armed Forces Career Center located on Lee Highway in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He exited the vehicle and fired multiple rounds from an AK-47-style rifle into the recruiting office, wounding one Marine recruiter in the process. No service members at the site were armed or returned fire, in accordance with Department of Defense policy prohibiting weapons at recruiting stations. Abdulazeez then departed the scene, driving to a second location. Abdulazeez proceeded approximately 7 miles south to the Navy Operational Support Center and Marine Corps Reserve Center on Amnicola Highway, arriving around 10:57 a.m. He rammed his vehicle through the security gate and opened fire on personnel gathered outside for training, initiating a . During the exchange, which lasted about 15 minutes, he killed four inside the facility and mortally wounded one . Abdulazeez, armed with the and at least one , was engaged by returning fire from and fatally shot by Chattanooga police officers around 11:15 a.m., ending the active threat.

Immediate Response and Casualties

Local responded rapidly to reports of gunfire at the Armed Forces Career Center on around 10:55 a.m. CDT on July 16, , though the perpetrator had already departed after firing shots that caused no injuries there. He then drove to the nearby Naval and Marine Corps Reserve Center on Amnicola Highway, crashed his vehicle through the gate, entered the facility, and opened fire on service members, killing four on site and wounding two others. Chattanooga police officers arrived at the reserve center within minutes, exchanging fire with the shooter, who had wounded one officer in the arm with a non-life-threatening injury; the officers fatally shot the perpetrator, neutralizing the active threat shortly thereafter. Two service members returned fire from inside the facility, providing cover that allowed other personnel to evacuate by climbing over the perimeter fence amid the ongoing exchange. The incident resulted in five U.S. service member deaths—four killed immediately and one who died the following day from his wounds—along with two surviving service member injuries; the perpetrator was also killed, and no civilians were harmed. Both affected sites were immediately locked down, with personnel evacuated or sheltered in place as local police and federal agents secured the perimeters to prevent further access and preserve the scenes for evidence collection. The FBI deployed approximately 250 personnel to the scenes promptly, assuming lead for the investigation, securing ballistic evidence such as spent casings and weapons, and coordinating initial forensic processing amid the ongoing lockdown.

Victims

Profiles and Service Records

Gunnery Sgt. Thomas J. Sullivan, aged 40 from , served over 16 years in the United States Marine Corps as an artilleryman assigned to Mike Battery, 3rd Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment, based in . His military career included deployments to , contributing to combat operations, and he was posthumously awarded the for non-combat heroism displayed during the attack, as well as the . Staff Sgt. David A. Wyatt, 37, from , was a Marine Corps veteran serving as Battery Operations Chief with the same unit in Chattanooga. He earned the posthumously for actions that saved others during the incident, reflecting his leadership in directing junior to safety, and received ; his service included combat experience in . Sgt. Carson A. Holmquist, 25, originally from , enlisted in the Marine Corps in 2009 and served as an automotive maintenance technician with Mike Battery, 3rd Battalion, 14th Marines. Over his six-year tenure, he completed two deployments to , supporting logistical and operational readiness in combat zones, and was posthumously awarded . Lance Cpl. Squire K. "Skip" Wells, 21, from , was a recent enlistee who joined the Marine Corps in November 2014, serving less than a year before the attack as part of the Chattanooga reserve unit. As a junior Marine, his role focused on foundational training and unit support, embodying early commitment to national defense; he received posthumously. Petty Officer 2nd Class Randall S. Smith, 26, a logistics specialist from Paulding, , was a Navy reservist on at the Chattanooga support center, where he managed supply operations critical to military readiness. Wounded during the initial assault, he succumbed to injuries on July 18, 2015, after efforts to aid fellow service members; Smith was posthumously awarded for wounds received in action.

Family and Community Impact

The families of the four and one killed in the July 16, 2015, shootings endured profound grief amid public mourning rituals. Military honors included posthumous awards such as , with a ceremony on January 26, 2016, presenting the medal to the family of a slain Marine Corps recruiter in Chattanooga. All five victims were similarly recognized months later for wounds received in action. Families also accessed standard Department of Defense survivor benefits, including financial support to mitigate household economic disruptions from the sudden loss of primary earners. Community solidarity manifested through immediate vigils and memorials in Chattanooga. On July 17, 2015, an interfaith vigil at Olivet Baptist Church drew supporters honoring the victims. Hundreds gathered shortly after for tributes reflecting collective shock and unity. A larger service on August 15, 2015, at on the University of Tennessee Chattanooga campus allowed thousands, including families and friends, to pay last respects to the slain service members. These events underscored short-term communal coping, though specific metrics on uptake or localized surges remain undocumented in immediate post-attack reports. Local measures temporarily heightened, potentially benefiting area firms, but no quantified economic strain on affected households beyond standard military entitlements was publicly detailed.

Perpetrator

Early Life and Family Background

Youssef Abdulazeez was born on September 16, 1990, in to Palestinian parents Youssef Abdulazeez, a , and Rasmia Abdulazeez. The family, which included four children, immigrated to the shortly after his birth and settled in the Chattanooga, Tennessee, suburb of Hixson, where Abdulazeez was raised in a middle-class Muslim household. Neighbors described the Abdulazeez children as polite, well-mannered, and disciplined, reflecting strict parenting, with siblings including sisters Yasmeen and Deena who participated in school activities such as and local studies. Abdulazeez's father, who attended the Islamic Society of Greater Chattanooga mosque, had been placed on a terrorism watch list and investigated by the FBI around 2002–2003 for suspected financial support to overseas groups linked to , but the inquiry concluded without charges or evidence of wrongdoing, clearing him from further scrutiny. The family maintained a structured lifestyle, with Abdulazeez attending local public schools and graduating from Red Bank High School before enrolling at the . In 2012, Abdulazeez earned a in from the . He subsequently sought employment in the field, including an with the at its , and a conditional position at the Perry Nuclear Power Plant in in May 2013, from which he was dismissed after failing a required drug screening as part of the background process. His siblings pursued conventional paths, such as local education and community involvement, in contrast to Abdulazeez's emerging difficulties in securing stable work.

Radicalization Process and Ideological Commitments

Mohammad Youssef Abdulazeez conducted online searches in 2013 for militant Islamist guidance on committing violence, including materials related to Anwar al-Awlaki, the al-Qaeda cleric known for sermons justifying attacks on perceived enemies of Islam. In the days leading up to the July 16, 2015, shootings, forensic analysis of his cellphone revealed he had viewed Awlaki's videos, which promoted violent jihad against Western military targets. These activities indicated a deliberate engagement with jihadist propaganda that framed U.S. service members as legitimate targets in a religious war. Abdulazeez's personal writings further evidenced his embrace of jihadist ideology. FBI investigators recovered a diary containing entries that romanticized martyrdom and expressed disdain for Western societal norms, aligning with narratives in Islamist extremist literature that portray death in jihad as a path to paradise. On July 13, 2015—just three days before the attack—he posted a blog entry praising the companions of the Prophet Muhammad as exemplars who "fought Jihad for the sake of Allah," portraying their sacrifices as a model for contemporary Muslims facing perceived oppression. This ideological commitment manifested in his selection of targets: two military facilities housing U.S. recruiting and reserve personnel, whom jihadist doctrine designates as "infidels" waging war against . The FBI's investigation concluded the attacks were inspired by foreign terrorist organization propaganda, establishing Islamist extremism—rather than personal grievances alone—as the primary causal driver, with recovered materials showing self-identification with global jihadist aims.

Mental Health Issues and Substance Abuse

Abdulazeez received psychiatric treatment for depression beginning at age 12. His family later described him as suffering from depression, mood instability, and suicidal ideation amid a broader "downward spiral." In 2014, his parents arranged for him to spend several months working with an uncle in Canada, explicitly to curb his depression alongside drug and alcohol abuse. Abdulazeez engaged in polysubstance abuse, including regular marijuana use, snorting of powdered , and consumption of alcohol. He was prescribed opiates for a back and sleeping pills to manage a night-shift work schedule, but reportedly escalated to abusing these alongside painkillers. An April 20, 2015, for erratically stemmed from recent marijuana and caffeine ingestion, after which he admitted to police his substance use; restrictions on his driving privileges were subsequently lifted following a period of evaluation. These and substance issues, while documented and consistent with patterns seen in a significant portion of the population—where depression affects approximately 10-20% and substance experimentation is widespread—did not preclude deliberate planning or account fully for the selective targeting of sites. The FBI's investigation, culminating in a December 2015 classification of the shootings as an act inspired by foreign terrorist organizations, emphasized ideological drivers over personal pathologies alone, rejecting explanations that would diminish the intentional assault on U.S. service members as mere byproduct of untreated illness or .

Pre-Attack Activities and Preparations

In the months preceding the July 16, 2015, attack, Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez legally purchased firearms from a licensed dealer in , and visited local shooting ranges on multiple occasions to hone his marksmanship skills. On July 14, 2015, Abdulazeez rented a silver from a local Enterprise agency, which he later used to drive between the targeted sites during the assault. That same day, Abdulazeez posted content on echoing jihadist rhetoric, including a reference to a by Anwar al-Awlaki urging believers to prioritize martyrdom over worldly life amid perceived oppression by Western powers, signaling his intent to act against U.S. military presence. Abdulazeez's extended travel abroad in 2014 included a seven-month stay in from to , during which U.S. investigators examined potential contacts with radical elements via family ties, including an uncle under scrutiny in Jordan, though no verified evidence emerged of structured terrorist training or operational direction.

Initial FBI Probe and Evidence Collection

The (FBI) immediately took the lead in investigating the July 16, 2015, shootings at the Chattanooga military recruiting station and Naval Reserve Center, establishing a that included federal agencies such as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, state authorities like the Department of Safety, local entities including the Chattanooga Police Department, and military components such as the U.S. Marine Corps, , and . Around 250 FBI personnel were dispatched to the scene in Chattanooga, as part of a broader effort involving 700 to 1,000 agents pursuing approximately 400 leads domestically and abroad. At the crime scenes, agents processed evidence including shell casings ejected from the perpetrator's and , along with multiple magazines recovered from his and person. Initial ballistic examinations matched projectiles from the victims to Abdulazeez's firearms exclusively, with no modifications noted on the weapons and two additional service member-owned guns found at the reserve center site. Digital forensics on computers seized from Abdulazeez's home uncovered browser history of searches pertaining to , while a personal containing entries on religious rationales for was also retrieved within days of the attack. Interviews conducted urgently with Abdulazeez's relatives, friends, and associates—including an uncle residing in —revealed no indications of co-conspirators or collaborative planning, reinforcing the preliminary assessment of a lone perpetrator. Hamilton County Bill Killian provisionally classified the shootings as an act of on July 17, 2015, pending further evaluation of any foreign influences, as the FBI continued scene sweeps and laboratory testing without identifying external operational support.

Determination of Terrorist Motivation

In December 2015, FBI Director James Comey announced that the July 16, 2015, Chattanooga shootings by Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez constituted an act of terrorism inspired by a foreign terrorist organization, explicitly ruling out characterizations as mere workplace violence or an isolated incident driven solely by mental health factors. The determination followed extensive analysis of digital forensics, including Abdulazeez's online activity, which revealed searches for religious justifications for violence against non-believers and downloads of propaganda from Anwar al-Awlaki, a U.S.-born Al Qaeda cleric known for advocating jihad against Americans. These elements aligned with broader jihadist ideologies promoting attacks on military targets as acts of martyrdom, though investigators found no evidence of direct operational direction from groups like ISIS or Al Qaeda. Abdulazeez's recovered diary contained entries expressing admiration for jihadist fighters and contemplating suicide missions to achieve martyrdom, indicating ideological commitment over personal grievance. Behavioral analysis by the FBI emphasized that while Abdulazeez exhibited signs of depression and substance abuse—exacerbated by a traumatic brain injury from a 2009 mixed martial arts fight—these conditions functioned as enablers rather than primary drivers, with radical Islamist ideology providing the causal framework for targeting U.S. service members. This assessment countered early narratives minimizing foreign influence, prioritizing empirical evidence from device extractions showing repeated engagement with extremist content over speculative mental health attributions unsupported by forensic links to the attack's execution. The FBI's conclusion underscored a pattern of self-radicalization common in post-9/11 jihadist incidents, where exposure to online calls for violence against Western military personnel—echoing Al Qaeda's historical fatwas—motivated lone actors without requiring organizational ties. No direct communications with terrorist operatives were uncovered, but the ideological alignment was deemed sufficient for the terrorism designation, enabling posthumous eligibility for awards to victims on grounds. This determination relied on primary investigative data rather than secondary interpretations, highlighting the primacy of ideological causation in dissecting such attacks.

Examination of Family Ties and Travel History

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) scrutinized the travel history of Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez's father, who had made multiple trips to Jordan, amid concerns over potential terrorist financing links. The elder Abdulazeez had previously been investigated by the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force in 2003 for possible ties to sending money to support terrorism overseas, but the probe concluded without charges or evidence of wrongdoing. Post-shooting examinations reaffirmed no financial support to terrorist entities from the family. Abdulazeez himself undertook an extended trip to from approximately to November 2014, lasting about seven months, which his family arranged to distance him from peers in Chattanooga perceived as negative influences amid his struggles with depression. Authorities probed this journey for signs of exposure to radical Islamist sermons or networks, particularly given reports of behavioral changes upon his return, though no confirmed contacts with organized militant groups emerged. Separate inquiries raised unverified claims of a possible side visit to during this period, prompting additional flags but yielding no substantiation. Abdulazeez's siblings, including sisters who had resided in the U.S., fully cooperated with the FBI by providing access to personal records and accounts, with investigators finding no indications of complicity or a wider enabling network. The absence of such connections underscored the attack's characterization as a lone-actor incident, despite the familial travel patterns under review.

Reactions

Official Government and Military Statements

President Barack Obama, in a statement on July 16, 2015, referred to the incident as a "tragic shooting" after receiving a briefing from FBI Director James Comey, expressing grief over the loss of life and committing federal resources to the investigation without invoking terrorism at that stage. Similarly, DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson described it as a "tragic shooting" the same day, noting DHS support for the FBI-led probe into the attacks on military facilities. Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus echoed this tone, calling the event "devastating and heartbreaking" and mourning the four service members killed. Tennessee Governor , on July 16, 2015, labeled the day "horrible" for Chattanooga and "tragic" for the state, focusing on condolences and the need for unity amid the deaths of five service members. Three days later, Haslam ordered a review of weapons policies and security procedures at state military facilities, including armories, to enhance protections in response to the vulnerability exposed by the unarmed recruiters targeted in the attacks. Secretary of Defense responded on July 17, 2015, by approving immediate force-protection enhancements across military installations nationwide, acknowledging the risks to recruiting centers where personnel were typically unarmed. By July 30, Carter directed the military services to evaluate arming personnel as an option in security plans, setting deadlines for improved measures like better coordination with local . The FBI's initial July 16 statement framed the events as "shootings" at military sites, with four killed and the perpetrator deceased, but by December 16, 2015, Director Comey announced the attacks were "inspired by a foreign terrorist organization," formally designating them an act of terrorism motivated by jihadist propaganda. This shift followed months of investigation, contrasting with the early federal reluctance to apply the terrorism label despite the deliberate targeting of U.S. military personnel, a hesitation some conservative officials and analysts attributed to caution against premature conclusions amid broader concerns over Islamist extremism.

Public and Media Responses

Public vigils and memorials drew large crowds in Chattanooga following the July 16, 2015, shootings, with residents expressing patriotism through American flags and tributes to the victims. A memorial service at on August 15, 2015, attended by thousands, featured battle crosses for the fallen service members staged on the arena floor, symbolizing communal grief and resolve. The attacks reignited debates on gun rights, particularly regarding military gun-free zones, as critics argued that armed personnel might have deterred the gunman. Conservative figures like Donald Trump advocated ending such policies at recruiting centers, while military leaders maintained that arming recruiters posed risks without clear benefits. Conservative media outlets swiftly framed the incident as jihadist terrorism, citing the shooter's online activity following clerics and criticizing mainstream coverage for initial hesitation in attributing Islamist motives. Publications like rejected downplaying the attack as non-terroristic, pointing to patterns of radicalization evident in Abdulazeez's writings and travels. In contrast, some mainstream reporting and official statements avoided "terrorism" labels early on, akin to prior incidents like Fort Hood, prompting accusations of reluctance to acknowledge radical Islam's role. On , trends emerged decrying "sudden syndrome," a term referencing abrupt violent turns by seemingly integrated , applied to Abdulazeez's profile as a recent graduate with no prior overt . These discussions amplified calls for vigilance against Islamist , emphasizing ideological drivers over isolated factors. Empirical studies post-attack indicated public perceptions leaned toward viewing Muslim perpetrators of mass shootings as more ideologically motivated and less mentally ill compared to non-Muslim cases.

Statements from Muslim Organizations and Community Leaders

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a self-described Muslim civil rights organization, issued a statement on July 16, 2015, condemning the killings of four Marines and a sailor in Chattanooga as "senseless violence" and extending condolences to the victims' families, while asserting that the attack did not represent Islamic teachings. CAIR's national executive director, , emphasized in subsequent comments that Muslims nationwide rejected such acts, framing the shooter as an aberration disconnected from mainstream . Leaders of the Islamic Society of Greater Chattanooga (ISGC), the mosque attended sporadically by shooter Mohammod Youssuf Abdulazeez, publicly denounced the attack on July 17, 2015. ISGC President Bassam Issa stated that the community was "in shock" and condemned the violence unequivocally, noting no prior signs of radicalization in Abdulazeez despite his father's long involvement with the mosque. Founding member Dr. Azhar S. echoed this, declaring, "We certainly do not want to be part of that demented ideology. That is not the message we preach here," and canceled the mosque's celebration—expected to draw around 1,000 attendees—out of respect for the slain service members. The ISGC leadership pledged full cooperation with the FBI investigation and affirmed that their teachings rejected "bellicose interpretations of ." In nearby Nashville, Muslim leaders from multiple mosques gathered on July 16, 2015, at Casa Azafran to issue a collective condemnation, describing the shootings as contrary to Islamic principles and expressing with the victims' families. Broader responses from U.S. Muslim figures, such as Mohamed Abdul-Azeez in a post-shooting , highlighted intra-community vigilance against , urging worshippers to report suspicions of extremist leanings to authorities to prevent similar incidents. These statements generally stressed that Abdulazeez's actions stemmed from personal deviance rather than doctrinal fidelity, though some leaders acknowledged the need to address jihadist recruitment risks within Muslim networks.

Controversies

Debate Over Mental Illness Versus Jihadist Ideology

The debate over the primary drivers of Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez's actions in the July 16, 2015, Chattanooga shootings centered on whether comorbid mental health issues or constituted the causal mechanism, with empirical evidence favoring the latter as the directing force. Abdulazeez had a documented treated since , alongside involving marijuana and other drugs, which family members and associates cited as contributing to personal instability; he was sent to in 2014 partly to address these issues. Proponents of a mental health primacy argued that untreated depression and drug-induced could precipitate impulsive , drawing parallels to non-ideological mass attacks where psychological breakdowns featured prominently. However, statistical patterns undermine this as a standalone : severe mental illness correlates with low rates of targeted mass absent ideological reinforcement, as most affected individuals pose risks of rather than organized assaults on specific groups like . FBI investigations, informed by digital forensics and recovered materials, established jihadist ideology as the overriding motivator, refuting characterizations of Abdulazeez as a mere "lone nut" unmoored by delusion. On July 15, 2015—the day before the attack—he posted to social media a quote from al-Qaeda propagandist Anwar al-Awlaki urging immediate action ("Brothers, what are you waiting for?!"), and his online activity included following radical Islamist clerics and searching phrases like "casualties of attack on Chattanooga recruiting station" months prior. Recovered writings expressed explicit anti-U.S. sentiments, praising martyrdom and framing military targets as legitimate for jihadist violence, aligning with patterns in other Islamist-inspired attacks such as the 2009 Fort Hood shooting. The FBI formally classified the incident as terrorism inspired by foreign groups like ISIS by December 2015, based on evidence of premeditated radicalization rather than spontaneous breakdown, leading to posthumous Purple Heart awards for victims under criteria for hostile foreign acts. From a causal standpoint, ideology supplied the purposeful framework absent in isolated mental episodes: Abdulazeez's selection of sites, acquisition of multiple firearms, and indicated directed intent, not random rage, mirroring jihadist operational logic where personal vulnerabilities amplify but do not originate the violence. While factors may have lowered inhibitions, they fail to account for the attack's specificity without the ideological scaffold of Islamist , as evidenced by the rarity of mentally ill individuals mounting ideologically coherent assaults versus the prevalence in jihadist cases. This tension highlights how conflating (co-occurring depression) with causation risks understating radicalization's role, particularly when official probes prioritize forensic indicators of intent over retrospective psychological speculation.

Criticisms of Initial Framing and Political Influences

In the immediate aftermath of the July 16, 2015, shootings, several outlets emphasized Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez's personal , marijuana use, and legal troubles, framing the incident tentatively as potentially stemming from a "troubled " rather than ideological . This approach persisted even as early reports noted his viewing of ISIS propaganda and travel to and , with federal officials initially withholding a label pending further evidence. Critics, including conservative commentators, contended that such framing echoed a broader pattern in left-leaning media of downplaying jihadist threats to avoid stigmatizing , prioritizing sensitivity over prompt acknowledgment of radical influences evident in Abdulazeez's online activity. The Obama administration's response reinforced perceptions of reluctance, with President Obama describing the event in his July 16 statement as a "tragic shooting" without invoking terrorism, mirroring prior hesitations like the 2009 Fort Hood classification as "workplace violence" despite the perpetrator's jihadist declarations. This delay drew bipartisan scrutiny but amplified conservative rebukes of political correctness overriding security realism, as the FBI did not officially designate the attacks as terrorism-inspired until December 16, 2015, after uncovering Abdulazeez's admiration for violent extremists. Administration defenders cited investigative caution, yet detractors argued it reflected systemic aversion to linking such violence to Islamic radicalism, potentially hampering public awareness and preventive measures. Conservative figures, such as then-candidate , explicitly criticized the framing, urging an end to by naming "" as the driver to confront the ideology head-on and avert future attacks on soft military targets. Republican lawmakers echoed this, pushing against euphemistic labels in rhetoric to emphasize causal links to foreign terrorist inspirations over domestic pathologies alone. These critiques highlighted a perceived disconnect between empirical indicators—like Abdulazeez's pro-jihad posts—and initial narratives, advocating unvarnished identification of radical as essential for effective .

Aftermath and Legacy

Security and Policy Reforms

In the wake of the July 16, 2015, shootings, Secretary of Defense directed the military services to conduct comprehensive reviews of security protocols at recruiting stations and reserve centers, emphasizing the need for enhanced measures to address vulnerabilities such as unarmed personnel and points. The Department of Defense established specific deadlines for implementing upgrades, including the installation of bollards, reinforced doors, systems, and access controls at recruiting facilities by early 2016, with armed personnel authorized where feasible to deter and respond to active threats. This accelerated rollout covered over 1,400 recruiting stations and similar sites across services, prioritizing high-risk locations and enabling select to carry concealed firearms after qualifying training. To fund these enhancements, committed up to $100 million over two years for personnel protection initiatives, including the deployment of armed guards at Navy Operational Support Centers and reserve facilities, marking a shift from prior policies that prohibited weapons at non-deployed domestic sites. specifically planned to station trained, armed sailors at recruiting stations, while the boosted on-site security presence and reviewed arming protocols for recruiters. Congressional responses included advocacy for improved vetting of immigrants and naturalized citizens from regions with elevated jihadist activity, citing the shooter's Kuwaiti birth and as a cautionary example, though no dedicated directly tied to the incident passed. Subsequent DoD audits and site evaluations confirmed reductions in access vulnerabilities through these measures, with local implementations in Chattanooga demonstrating fortified perimeters and rapid response capabilities by 2025.

Broader Implications for Counterterrorism

The 2015 Chattanooga shootings underscored the persistent danger of homegrown jihadist , where individuals radicalized domestically carry out attacks inspired by foreign groups like and without direct operational support. The perpetrator, Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez, a naturalized U.S. citizen, demonstrated how jihadist ideology could motivate lethal against soft military targets, contributing to a pattern of such incidents that killed over 100 people on U.S. soil since 9/11. This event highlighted the limitations of perimeter security alone, emphasizing instead the need for proactive measures against ideological infiltration that enables self-radicalized actors to exploit domestic vulnerabilities. Counterterrorism strategies post-Chattanooga increasingly recognized the primacy of jihadist ideology as the causal driver, rather than attributing attacks solely to personal struggles, which can obscure the motivational role of Islamist . Although Abdulazeez exhibited signs of depression and , the FBI's investigation concluded the assault was "terrorism-inspired" by a foreign , with evidence of his consumption of jihadist overriding ancillary factors. This determination countered narratives minimizing ideological intent, reinforcing arguments for targeted de-radicalization efforts focused on dismantling supremacist religious interpretations that justify against perceived enemies, as opposed to broad psychosocial interventions that fail to address doctrinal roots. The attack amplified awareness of online pathways, as Abdulazeez followed figures and shared jihadist content on , exemplifying how digital platforms facilitate lone-actor threats without physical travel abroad. Analyses of similar cases revealed 's role in amplifying calls to action, prompting calls for enhanced monitoring and content disruption strategies in U.S. doctrine. In the broader policy landscape, incidents like Chattanooga informed realist approaches prioritizing scrutiny of from jihadism-endemic regions to curb the introduction of high-risk ideologies that fuel subsequent generations' , influencing executive actions under the Trump administration that temporarily restricted entries from countries with inadequate capabilities.

References

  1. https://www.fbi.gov/news/press-releases/fbi-statement-on-shootings-at-military-facilities-in-chattanooga-tennessee
  2. https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/nashville/news/press-releases/law-enforcement-and-military-response-to-the-july-16-2015-deadly-shootings-at-a-military-recruitment-center-and-a-naval-and-marine-reserve-center-in-chattanooga-tennessee
  3. https://www.justice.gov/usao-edtn/pr/law-enforcement-and-military-response-july-16-2015-deadly-shootings-military
  4. http://fleischmann.house.gov/media/press-releases/fbi-designates-chattanooga-shootings-terrorism
  5. https://www.cnn.com/2015/12/16/us/chattanooga-shooting-terrorist-inspiration
  6. https://abcnews.go.com/US/chattanooga-shooter-mohammod-abdulazeez-al-qaeda-cleric-online/story?id=32585636
  7. https://www.counterextremism.com/extremists/muhammad-youssef-abdulazeez
  8. https://stjececmsdusgva001.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/public/documents/Chattanooga_Shooting_Inv_-_16_July_2015_WV84xgu.pdf
  9. https://abcnews.go.com/US/chattanooga-shooting-unfolded/story?id=32516133
  10. https://www.cnn.com/2015/07/16/us/tennessee-naval-reserve-shooting
  11. https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/chattanooga-shooting/chattanooga-shooting-attacker-had-least-three-guns-authorities-say-n394046
  12. https://www.cnn.com/2015/07/18/us/tennessee-naval-reserve-shooting
  13. https://news.usni.org/2015/07/17/marine-corps-identifies-four-victims-of-reserve-center-shooting-in-chattanooga
  14. https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/07/17/423892633/marine-corps-identifies-4-service-members-who-died-in-chattanooga-attack
  15. https://www.masslive.com/springfield/2023/11/remembrance-run-to-honor-gunnery-sgt-thomas-j-sullivan.html
  16. https://www.marines.mil/News/News-Display/Article/1175723/two-marines-killed-in-chattanooga-shooting-receive-highest-non-combat-award/
  17. https://www.marines.mil/News/News-Display/Article/739873/marines-killed-in-chattanooga-awarded-purple-heart/
  18. https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/your-marine-corps/2015/07/17/names-of-marine-chattanooga-shooting-victims-revealed/
  19. https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/your-marine-corps/2017/03/30/two-marines-killed-in-chattanooga-to-be-recognized-for-giving-their-lives-to-save-others/
  20. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2015/07/17/victims-identified-tennessee--military-recruitment-center-rampage/30291389/
  21. https://www.latimes.com/la-na-nn-marines-victims-chattanooga-shooting-htmlstory.html
  22. https://www.marforres.marines.mil/Marine-Forces-Reserve-Leaders/Biography-View/Article/1947609/wells-lance-cpl-squire-k-skip/
  23. https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/kennesaw-ga/skip-wells-6528644
  24. https://www.etvma.org/veterans/smith-randall/
  25. https://www.doncio.navy.mil/Chips/ArticleDetails.aspx?ID=7344
  26. https://www.marines.mil/News/News-Display/Article/644664/marine-chattanooga-shooting-victim-receives-purple-heart-medal/
  27. https://www.nytimes.com/topic/mohammod-youssuf-abdulazeez
  28. https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2015/jul/18/breaking-one-four-marines-killed-chattanooga-ident/
  29. https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/local/2015/07/18/us-navy-sailor-injured-tennessee-shooting-died/30339001/
  30. https://www.marines.mil/News/News-Display/Article/613713/families-friends-pay-last-respects-to-chattanooga-victims/
  31. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/chattanooga-shooter-came-from-middle-class-muslim-family/2015/07/16/815c39c2-2c04-11e5-bd33-395c05608059_story.html
  32. https://www.cnn.com/2015/07/17/us/tennessee-shooter-abdulazeez-family
  33. https://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-mohammod-youssuf-abdulazeez-tennessee-shooting-20150716-htmlstory.html
  34. https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/muhammad-youssef-abdulazeez-chattanooga-suspect-named-as-engineering-graduate-10395126.html
  35. https://www.al.com/news/2015/07/chattanooga_shooter_worked_as.html
  36. https://abcnews.go.com/US/chattanooga-shooting-suspect-typical-american-kid/story?id=32514592
  37. https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/07/17/423903279/chattanooga-shootings-being-investigated-as-terrorism
  38. https://www.npr.org/2015/07/21/425054331/investigators-search-for-terrorist-link-in-chattanooga-tenn-shootings
  39. https://abcnews.go.com/US/chattanooga-shooting-fbi-recovers-gunmans-disturbing-diary/story?id=32558310
  40. https://www.newsweek.com/mohammod-youssuf-abdulazeez-blog-354595
  41. https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/chattanooga-shooting-declared-terrorist-inspired-purple-hearts-awarded/story?id=35808264
  42. https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/national-international/chattanooga-shooter-had-history-of-drug-abuse-depression-source/1976603/
  43. https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/chattanooga-shooting/chattanooga-shooting-gunman-muhammad-abdulazeez-was-downward-spiral-family-rep-n395036
  44. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/jul/21/chattanooga-shooting-muhammad-youssef-abdulazeez-drugs-alcohol-depression
  45. https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/chattanooga-shooting/chattanooga-tennessee-shooter-mohammad-abdulazeez-history-drug-abuse-n394841
  46. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/chattanooga-shooter-an-aimless-young-man-who-smoked-dope-and-shot-guns/2015/07/18/c213f6a6-2d7d-11e5-a5ea-cf74396e59ec_story.html
  47. https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/USA-Update/2015/0720/What-does-Chattanooga-gunman-s-diary-tell-us-about-him
  48. https://fleischmann.house.gov/media/press-releases/fbi-designates-chattanooga-shootings-terrorism
  49. https://www.wsj.com/articles/chattanooga-suspect-said-to-have-visited-shooting-ranges-before-attack-1437183928
  50. https://politicalscience.osu.edu/faculty/jmueller/72CHAT7.pdf
  51. https://www.cnn.com/2015/07/22/us/chattanooga-shooting
  52. https://www.cnn.com/2015/07/20/us/tennessee-naval-reserve-shooting
  53. https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/chattanooga-shooting/mohammad-youssef-abdulazeez-downloaded-recordings-radical-cleric-officials-say-n395986
  54. https://www.wsj.com/articles/chattanooga-shooting-suspects-trip-to-jordan-scrutinized-by-authorities-1437140737
  55. https://www.reuters.com/article/world/uk/suspect-in-slaying-of-us-marines-made-2014-trip-to-mideast-idUSKCN0PQ1WX/
  56. https://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/18/us/chattanooga-gunmans-past-scoured-for-extremist-ties.html
  57. https://abcnews.go.com/US/chattanooga-shooting-fbi-reveals-details/story?id=32619426
  58. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-33559853
  59. https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Justice/2015/1216/FBI-director-labels-Chattanooga-shooting-terrorism.-Does-it-matter
  60. https://www.cnn.com/videos/us/2015/07/17/chattanooga-shooter-father-investigated-perez-ath.cnn
  61. https://www.wtkr.com/2015/07/17/marines-killed-in-chattanooga-shooting-identified
  62. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-33562142
  63. https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2015/07/16/statement-president-shooting-chattanooga-tn
  64. https://www.dhs.gov/archive/news/2015/07/16/statement-secretary-jeh-c-johnson-chattanooga
  65. https://www.navy.mil/DesktopModules/ArticleCS/Print.aspx?PortalId=1&ModuleId=685&Article=2262832
  66. https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/2015/07/16/active-shooter--chattanooga-military-facility/30240535/
  67. https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/chattanooga-shooting/gov-bill-haslam-orders-review-weapons-rules-military-facilities-n394681
  68. https://www.war.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/612658/carter-approves-force-protection-steps-in-wake-of-chattanooga-shootings/
  69. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/defense-secretary-wants-security-policy-review-chattanooga-attacks
  70. https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/statement-governor-bobby-jindal-the-chattanooga-shooting
  71. https://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/20/us/chattanooga-wears-pride-beside-its-pain-after-killings.html
  72. https://www.nydailynews.com/2015/07/17/chattanooga-shooting-renews-debate-over-military-gun-free-zones/
  73. https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2015/jul/24/gunning-safetymilitary-leaders-say-no/
  74. https://www.nationalreview.com/2015/07/chattanooga-shooting-muslim-jihad-muhammad-abdulazeez/
  75. https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/obamas-disturbing-pattern-of-playing-down-islamic-terror/2015/07/20/1181bcbc-2ee3-11e5-8353-1215475949f4_story.html
  76. http://politicalislam.com/sudden-jihad/
  77. https://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/features/vio-vio0000217.pdf
  78. https://www.facebook.com/CAIRNational/posts/cair-condemns-killing-of-marines-in-tennessee-offers-condolenceswashington-dc-71/10153100509637695/
  79. https://www.newschannel5.com/news/islamic-society-president-condemns-chattanooga-shooting
  80. https://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/17/us/chattanooga-mosque-where-gunman-worshiped-mourns-marines.html
  81. https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/2015/07/16/local-muslim-community-reaction--chattanooga-shooting/30264855/
  82. https://www.reuters.com/article/world/chattanooga-stirs-u-s-muslims-concerns-about-radicalization-idUSKCN0PT0AE/
  83. https://news.yahoo.com/chattanooga-stirs-u-muslims-concerns-radicalization-180750690.html
  84. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9364674/
  85. https://www.wflx.com/story/29586657/muhammad-youssef-abdulazeez-writings-of-chattanooga-shooter-expressed-anti-us-sentiments/
  86. https://ctc.westpoint.edu/is-there-a-nexus-between-terrorist-involvement-and-mental-health-in-the-age-of-the-islamic-state/
  87. https://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/17/us/chattanooga-tennessee-shooting.html
  88. https://www.christianpost.com/news/donald-trump-calls-out-obama-for-refusing-to-condemn-islamic-terrorism-in-chattanooga-shooting-says-time-for-political-correctness-is-over.html
  89. https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2015/aug/05/republicans-push-back-homeland-securitys-figh/
  90. https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/07/chattanooga-shooter-carlos-bledsoe-120530
  91. https://www.hanscom.af.mil/news/article-display/article/1417909/know-the-threat-in-two-minutes/
  92. https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2015/10/28/pentagon-sets-deadlines-for-new-security-after-chattanooga-shooting/
  93. https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2016/07/27/the-pentagon-will-spend-at-least-80-million-to-protect-recruiters-from-terrorists/
  94. https://www.13newsnow.com/article/news/national/military-news/navy-to-put-armed-sailors-at-recruiting-stations/291-274297122
  95. https://newschannel9.com/news/local/military-plans-security-changes-in-wake-of-july-16th-2015-chattanooga-shootings
  96. https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/chattanooga-shooting/chattanooga-shooting-navy-plans-armed-guards-reserve-centers-n405931
  97. https://www.reuters.com/article/world/uk/us-army-boosts-security-at-recruiting-centers-idUSKCN0S82N1/
  98. https://newschannel9.com/news/local/chattanoogas-military-sites-strengthen-defenses-decade-after-deadly-terror-attack
  99. https://ctc.westpoint.edu/the-road-to-orlando-jihadist-inspired-violence-in-the-west-2012-2016/
  100. https://d1y8sb8igg2f8e.cloudfront.net/documents/ISP_17_Years_DIGITAL_Final.pdf
Add your contribution
Related Hubs
User Avatar
No comments yet.