But that was early in the reporting. Will try to see if I can find anything.

front door also

If you want to do something crazy, and have two brain cells to rub together, you can figure out how to do it.

He indicated that there are 3 security barriers before you can actually get in that building.

Frankly this is a scandal about security clearances. He was in the Navy Reserves for 2 years and then booted out.

I also read something about his being a civilian contractor. But if I've learned anything from situations like this, it's going to take a little while before all the facts get it.


rocktivity

This story says he was in the reserves for four years. Doesn't mention him being dismissed.
http://news.yahoo.com/suspected-shooter-served-u-navy-reserves-202557709.html

He also had secret clearance to the facility.

Didn't say why it wasn't honorable.

I'll wait - he had serious psychiatric problems but he sure organized his slaughter well.

Honorable Discharge from Navy (source: Navy officials, via New York Times)

"Navy officials said the gunman was given an honorable discharge from the military in January 2011 after he had applied for an early discharge under the Navy’s 'early enlisted transition program,' although he had exhibited a 'pattern of misbehavior,' which included insubordination and unauthorized absences. Those issues had led the Navy to consider forcing Mr. Alexis out of the service with a less than honorable discharge."


And Rear Adm. John Kirby was on CNN earlier and said the same.

It absolutely makes no difference how long he was in the military.

Please note the post is more than 24 hours old and about 15 news cycles ago.

I've heard it reported that he shot the guard at the gate, took his service weapon and then shot a responding DC police officer and took the officers AR-15.

Maybe that's what happened, maybe not.

Or they did, anyway, last time I was there. USMC security detachment does man the Latrobe gate, don't know about the others. It's been years since I've been over there.

Brought it in piece by piece.

And then easily carried in a gym bag or some such. Without going back to re-read the article, I'm pretty sure he had used another person's badge to gain entrance to the facility and having that badge meant there was no requirement to search the bag. They found the badge lying next to his body.

don't have a lot of people working those things. You swipe your card and in you go.

At one place where I used to work there was only one guy sitting behind the desk when it wasn't "rush hour." He'd be on the phone half the time. He was there to make sure someone didn't jump over the darn things.

This guy used someone else's "swipe card" to get in--he might have shot the guard, or if he had the weapon in a duffle or gym bag (lots of people run at lunch), who would notice?

The idea is to make sure people who are supposed to get in are getting in; at NAVSEA, they're more worried about limiting access to authorized people so that military secrets (design of ships, e.g.) don't leave the building. They aren't thinking of some nut shooting people....

Until now, anyway...

- and now they're saying he never even picked up an AR-15? I did hear where they were only finding shotgun shells. Just never know what to believe. Witnesses sure have a good reason to be confused given what was going on, though.

But even that hypothesis is looking doubtful at this point.

- he had a shotgun that was in pieces. He then put the pieces together, began his spree, and took the AR-15 and handgun off others, probably police/security officers.

He had a valid ID, didn't have to go through metal detectors, so easily got the shotgun inside the building disassembled.

This according to info at the following link: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/09/17/navy-yard-shooting-aaron-alexis-washington/2824793/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+usatoday-NewsTopStories+%28USATODAY+-+News+Top+Stories%29&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher

The gun was broken in half and he had it in a bag,” one official said of the Remington. “He went inside the building and assembled it in a bathroom.”

From: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/18/us/state-law-stopped-gunman-from-buying-rifle-officials-say.html

Once inside, he went to a restroom put the shotgun together and then shot a guard and that took the guard's AR-15. He shot another guard and that is where he got the third gun.