Crime

FBI investigating DC Navy Yard shooter’s Brooklyn connection

Family lives in Bed-Stuy

September 17, 2013 Brooklyn Daily Eagle

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The mother, brother, sister and brother-in-law of Aaron Alexis, the infamous Washington Navy Yard shooter, live in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn.

Both the FBI and NYPD have interviewed Alexis’ mom at her Putnam Avenue home, according to WNBC. Posters on Twitter said police closed the street Monday evening while the investigation was ongoing.

His aunt Helen Weeks told the Washington Post that “Alexis grew up in Brooklyn with his mother, Sarah, and father, Anthony Alexis.”

Alexis launched an attacked Monday morning inside a building at the Navy Yard, spraying gunfire on office workers in the cafeteria and in the hallways authorities said. At least 13 people were killed, including Alexis.

The family is “distraught,” Anthony Little, the suspect’s brother-in-law told WNBC.

“Our hearts go out to you. We apologize for the inconvenience of losing a loved one,” the family later said. “We also lost a loved one.”

Mayor Bloomberg said in a statement Monday, “Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by today’s tragic shootings at the Washington DC.”

According to a tweet from NBC, Alexis bought a shotgun in Lorton, Va. some time in last week or so. Police are still determining if a second person was involved.

Alexis, 34, was reportedly born in Queens, spent some time in Brooklyn, served in Fort Worth, Texas, and recently began working at the Navy yard as a civilian contractor for a company with subcontracted to Hewlett Packard to work on the Navy-Marine intranet network, according to CBS. His employer was a company called “The Experts,” according to CNBC.

He was also reportedly enrolled as a student at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida, a spokesperson told The Washington Post.

According to the Navy Office of Information, his home of record is New York City, New York, and his last rank in the Navy was Aviation Electrician’s Mate 3rd Class/AE3.

Alexis’ Navy postings include a stint in Great Lakes, Illinois in 2007; a position as commander, Fleet Logistics Support Wind, in January, 2008; and as Fleet Logistics Support Squadron in Fort Worth, Texas, from 2008 to January 31, 2011.

His awards and decorations include National Defense Service Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.

Alexis was arrested in Seattle, Washington in 2004 for shooting out the tires of another man’s vehicle in anger; and in 2010 for shooting through his ceiling into an apartment of a neighbor her was having a dispute with about loud music. Alexis told officers he was cleaning the weapon when it slipped and accidentally discharged, and he was not charged.

Alexis’ father allegedly said he had anger issues related to post-traumatic stress disorder from September 11, 2001.

Police are asking anyone with information to call 202-727-9099.