Late on the morning of July 16, a gunman killed four Marines in Chattanooga, Tennessee. In addition to the Marines, three were injured, and the gunman himself was also killed. The shooting occurred at two different locations, one at a Naval Operation Support Center, and another at an Armed Forces Recruitment Center. It is believed that the four killings all occurred at the Naval Operations Support Center. The locations are reported to be about fifteen miles apart, and it is estimated that the gunman had to drive five minutes to drive from the first location to the second.
The Naval Operation Center where the attack occurred.
The gunman was later identified as Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez. According to F.B.I special agent, Edward Reinhold, the shooter was "probably from this area, or at least was residing in this area prior to the event." The Federal Bureau of Investigation has been put in charge of the full investigation. Mr. Abdulazeez has not previously been under investigation by the F.B.I. However, the F.B.I is now doing a thorough investigation of the gunman. Files on the shooter are being complied; background checks, as well as weapon checks, are already being complied as well.
New York Times stated that officials are investigating whether or not Abdulazeez is tied to foreign terrorist groups. It is unclear if ISIS inspired the attack, but it is a possibility. After the shooting, officials were calling the attack an "act of domestic terrorism." President Obama was briefed on the incident and addressed the shooting. He did not categorize the shooting as domestic terrorism, and assures the nation that a very thorough investigation will take place.
So, what exactly is an act of domestic terrorism, and why do some officials believe it to be such an act? The F.B.I. defines terrorism as "the unlawful use of force or violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives.” Therefore a domestic terrorist act would involve such an act committed by a U.S. citizen meant to terrorize U.S. citizens and U.S. government. Some officials are classifying it as a domestic terrorist attack because the ISIS has recently released propaganda encouraging U.S. citizens to attack military and police personnel. ISIS has inspired five different plots against military personnel that were luckily caught before being executed.
If the attack does become classified as a domestic terrorist act inspired by ISIS, then there may be continuing discrimination against the Islamic community. ISIS stands for the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, therefore many believe that all Muslim citizens are just like the extremist Muslims of ISIS. If it is proven that Abdulazeez was inspired by ISIS, American citizens may become more fearful of the Muslim-American Citizens who live in the United States. This event is extremely tragic, and those lives who were lost should be mourned and honored. This event isn't just heartbreaking for the nation though, it may greatly affect the Islamic community negatively.
