Senate

McConnell: Tennessee shooting a ‘terrible tragedy’

by Jordain Carney - 07/16/15 6:21 PM ET

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) called Thursday’s shooting at two Tennessee military facilities a “terrible tragedy” and “a sad day across our country.”

“This is a sad day in Chattanooga, and a sad day across our country. Another terrible tragedy, a mass shooting, apparently,” the Republican leader said Thursday from the Senate floor. “A thorough investigation is underway. The Senate’s thoughts are with the families of the Marines, and our entire military community.”

{mosads}His remarks come after the FBI confirmed the identity of the gunman who killed four Marines at two separate military facilities in Chattanooga, before being killed himself, as 24-year-old Kuwaiti immigrant Mohammad Youssuf Abdulazeez.

The attack left three others wounded, including a police officer.

McConnell said that Tennessee Republican Sens. Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker, who he described as “two great senators,” are “mourning the events of today.”

“The American people will be interested in knowing as soon as possible as many facts about this horrible shooting as possible,” he added.

Though officials have suggested that it is too early to try to determine the shooter’s motive, U.S. Attorney Bill Killian said that officials “are treating this as an act of domestic terrorism.”

Tags Bob Corker Lamar Alexander Mitch McConnell