Five people injured in a Saudi officer's shooting rampage at Naval Air Station Pensacola on Dec. 6 have been released from the hospital, base officials said Monday.
Three others wounded in the attack remain in the hospital in stable condition, Jason Bortz, a base spokesman, said in a statement. The shooting, which was committed in a classroom building by a Saudi second lieutenant at the base for training, resulted in the deaths of three sailors. The shooter was killed by an Escambia County Sheriff's Office deputy who responded to the scene.
Those killed in the shooting include Ensign Joshua Kaleb Watson, Airman Mohammed Sameh Haitham and Airman Apprentice Cameron Scott Walters.
In a statement, Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly called the fallen sailors heroic, saying they had shown exceptional bravery and worked to prevent more casualties.
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The base, which has been largely in a state of lockdown since the horrific shooting occurred, is gradually reopening, according to the statement. The air station is currently open only to those with a Defense Department ID. On base, the National Naval Aviation Museum and Pensacola Lighthouse have also reopened, but only to DoD ID holders, according to the statement.
A wide-ranging investigation into the horrific shooting is ongoing, headed up by the FBI. It is now officially being investigated as an act of terrorism, officials said over the weekend.
Editor's Note: This story has been updated to correct the spokesman's title.
-- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @HopeSeck.
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