Military: Sailor kills 2, takes own life
HONOLULU — The military says a U.S. sailor shot and killed two civilian Department of Defense employees and wounded another at the Pearl Harbor shipyard before taking his own life.
Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, one of the Navy’s major installations, said the shooting began around 2:30 p.m. at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard. The military didn’t release a motive or any identifying information about the sailor who opened fire.
The third victim was reportedly being treated at a hospital and in unknown condition.
The base reopened following a lockdown.
The shipyard repairs, maintains and modernizes the ships and submarines of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, which is headquartered at Pearl Harbor. The base is the home port for 10 destroyers and 15 submarines.
The shooting occurred at Dry Dock 2, a Honolulu official said. The area is one of the shipyard’s four dry docks where vessels usually undergo repairs. All are located on base, but also employ civilians, the official said, adding that bystanders likely belonged to one of three groups: active-duty military members, their family and civilian dock workers.
Though the dry dock is near the memorial, it’s unlikely that tourists would have been present, the official said.
Hawaii Gov. David Ige said the White House has offered assistance from federal agencies and that the state is also ready to help if needed.
“I join in solidarity with the people of Hawaii as we express our heartbreak over this tragedy and concern for those affected by the shooting,” Ige said in a statement.
The shipyard is across the harbor from the Pearl Harbor National Memorial, which on Saturday will mark the 78th anniversary of the Japanese attack that propelled the U.S. into World War II. More than 2,300 Americans died in the attack on Dec. 7, 1941.