FBI investigating Texas base shooting as ‘terrorism-related’

Nahla Abdelmonem

The FBI said it is investigating a shooting at a Texas military base as “terrorism-related.”

FBI special agent Leah Greeves said at a news conference that investigators were working to determine whether a second person of interest was at large in the community.

“We have determined that the incident this morning at the Naval Air Station Corpus Christi is terrorism-related,” Greeves said.

“We are working diligently with our state, local and federal partners on this investigation, which is fluid and evolving,” he added.

The shooting wounded a sailor and left the gunman dead. It began around 6.15am at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi.

The shooter tried to speed through a gate at the base in a vehicle, but security personnel put up a barrier in time to stop the shooting, US officials said.

The man then got out of the car and opened fire, striking and wounding a navy sailor who is a member of the security force at the base.

During the exchange of gunfire, the shooter was killed by security personnel, the officials said.

Greeves did not elaborate on a potential motive or specify what led investigators to believe the shooting is related to terrorism.

Federal investigators also did not provide any information about the “potential second related person of interest at large in the community” or why they believe that is the case.

Officials were still working to process the crime scene, Greeves said.

The FBI’s field office in Houston has taken the lead on the investigation and neither investigators nor the navy provided details on the shooter or a possible motive.