2 hurt in shooting at Tenn. armory; guardsman arrested

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A member of the National Guard shot and wounded two of his superiors Thursday at an armory outside a Navy facility in Millington, Tenn., authorities said.

The gunman shot a sergeant major and a major, both recruiters, as they were going through administrative policies and procedures with him, said Maj. Gen. Max Haston, adjutant general of the Tennessee National Guard.

The local Fox affiliate in Memphis reported on its website that the guardsman, who is also a recruiter, was being relieved of his duties when he went out to his car and retrieved a handgun shortly after noon.

“You never think something like this is going to happen on your watch or in good old Tennessee here,” Haston said.

A bullet struck one soldier in a leg and the other in the foot, Millington police Chief Rita Stanback told a news conference.

The two victims are “seasoned recruiters,” Haston said, with more than 15 years each in the National Guard.

The Navy described their wounds as not life-threatening.

Both victims were taken to hospitals, according to Millington fire Chief Gary Graves.

The unidentified suspect was apprehended by other National Guard employees before police arrived, Stanback said.

The shooting occurred inside a National Guard armory near the Naval Support Activity Mid-South facility, Graves said.

The armory is across the street from the base, outside the secured area, and within the city limits of Millington, about 15 miles north of Memphis.

Haston said security protocol for the building was “followed to the absolute letter,” The Commercial Appeal newspaper of Memphis reported on its website.

The facility was temporarily locked down as a precaution, but that was later lifted, the Navy said.

The Navy base serves as a human resources center with more than 7,500 military and civilian personnel on the premises.

The incident took place just over a month after a contract worker opened fire at the Washington Navy Yard on Sept. 16, killing 12 people before being fatally shot by police.

Tribune Newspapers contributed.