Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons said that law enforcement found no sign of an active shooter and zero injuries at Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola, despite calls regarding multiple gunshots. However, they are still sweeping the building out of an abundance of caution. There are no details on what occurred at the base.
Pensacola Police Department Public Information Officer Mike Wood confirmed to Fox News that “no shooting took place” at Corry Station, which is a sub-installation of NAS Pensacola and located at NAS Pensacola.
A general view of Naval Air Station Pensacola in Florida. (Josh Brasted/Getty Images)
An earlier statement from NAS Pensacola read, “NAS Pensacola Navy Security Forces and local law enforcement entities are responding to an active shooter situation March 6 onboard Corry Station.”
“Our Security team is responding swiftly and expertly with our local law enforcement partners,” said Capt. Chandra Newman said in the NAS Pensacola statement. “Our concern is always the safety and welfare of our service members and their families. Gates to NAS Pensacola and Corry Station areas of operations are closed. More information will be posted to the air station’s social media sites as it becomes available.”
NAS Pensacola experienced a terror attack in December 2019, when Royal Saudi Air Force 2nd Lt. Mohammed Saeed Alshamrani, shot and killed three sailors and wounded eight others. This could explain why today’s report drew such a large response from law enforcement.
Royal Saudi Air Force 2nd Lieutenant Mohammed Saeed Alshamrani, airman accused of killing three people at a U.S. Navy base in Pensacola, Florida, is seen in an undated military identification card photo released by the Federal Bureau of Investigation December 7, 2019. (FBI/Handout via REUTERS)
Then-Attorney General Bill Barr said Alshamrani was “motivated by jihadist ideology,” citing the Saudi national’s online posts. Senior DOJ officials told Fox News at the time that Alshamrani left a “trail of extremism” in the days and weeks leading up to his attack.
US Attorney General Bill Barr during a news conference on Dec. 21, 2020 in Washington, D.C. (Michael Reynolds-Pool)
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After the attack also led to the expulsion of 21 Saudi nationals who were training with the U.S. military at facilities, including NAS Pensacola.
“Saudi Arabia determined that this material demonstrated conduct unbecoming an officer in the Royal Saudi Air Force and in the Royal Navy and the 21 cadets and have been disenrolled from their training curriculum in the U.S. military and will be returning to Saudi Arabia later today,” Barr said.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
Greg Norman contributed to this report.
