19-Year-Old Airman From St. Pete Among Those Killed In Pensacola

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — The Naval Air Station Pensacola has released the names of three of the victims from Friday's shooting, and the news has hit a St. Petersburg community especially hard.

Among those identified as killed in the shooting is Airman Mohammed Sameh Haitham of St. Petersburg. Just 19 years old, Haitham, known as "Mo" to his family and friends, was a track and field star at Lakewood High School. He joined the Navy after graduating from the high school in May 2018.

The other two victims identified are Ensign Joshua Kale Watson, 23, of Coffee, Alabama, and Airman Apprentice Cameron Scott Walters, 21, of Richmond Hill, Georgia.

Eight others were wounded in the attack.

Related:

Pensacola Military Shooting: 3 Killed By Gunman, Who Is Shot Dead

In response to the shootings last week at both Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii and Naval NAS Pensacola, Florida, U.S. Northern Command has called for increased random security checks at all stations. Located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Northcom is tasked with providing military support for non-military authorities in the United States and, if necessary, would be the primary defender against an invasion of the U.S.

While the FBI continued its investigation into the Pensacola shooting, Capt. Tim Kinsella, commanding officer of NAS Pensacola, issued the following statement:

"The sorrow from the tragic event on NAS Pensacola will have a lasting impact on our installation and community. We feel the loss profounding and grieve with the family and friends of the deceased. The sailors that lost their lives in the line of duty showed exceptional heroism and bravery in the face of evil. When confronted, they didn't run from danger; they ran towards it and saved lives. If not for their actions, and the actions of the Naval Security Force that were the first responders on the scene, this incident could have been far worse."

On Friday night, the FBI released a photo of the man identified as the shooter at NAS Pensacola. Mohammed Alshamrani (or al-Shamrani) was a 21-year-old Saudi native serving as a second lieutenant in the Royal Saudi Air Force. He was in the United States as a student naval flight officer at the Naval Education and Training Security Assistance Field Activities International Training Center at NAS Pensacola.

NETC was established in 1988 "to meet the aviation-specific training needs of international officers and enlisted students from allied nations."

Kinsella said Alshamrani was among several hundred foreign students taking classes at NTEC.

Alshamrani was somehow able to sneak a Glock 9mm handgun and at least four magazines onto the campus of the naval station Friday morning and opened fire in a classroom before he was fatally shot by two Escambia County deputies.

Kinsella said only members of the security forces are permitted to bring weapons onto NAS.

Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan said his office was alerted about the shooting shortly before 7 a.m. Friday.

"Walking through the crime scene was like being on the set of a movie," Morgan said during a press conference. "You don't expect this to happen."

The FBI said it has detained six Saudi nationals for questioning in the shooting, including three who filmed the attack on their cell phones. The agency is asking anyone with information regarding Alshamrani's activities prior to the shooting to call 800-CALL-FBI.

Citing the SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors jihadist media, AFP is reporting that Alshamrani posted an anti-American tweet before the shooting, although authorities haven't confirmed that it was actually Alshamrani who posted the tweet.

The brief manifesto attributed to Alshamrani read: "I'm against evil, and America as a whole has turned into a nation of evil. I'm not against you for just being American, I don't hate you because of your freedoms, I hate you because every day you supporting, funding and committing crimes not only against Muslims but also humanity."

In a press conference Friday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis pointed out that Alshamrani was of the same nationality as 15 of the 19 men involved in the 9/11 attacks. Some of those men attended civilian flight schools in Florida.

"The government of Saudi Arabia needs to make things better for these victims. And I think they are going to owe a debt here given that this is one of their individuals," said DeSantis.

During a follow-up press conference Sunday afternoon, DeSantis noted that the naval base hosts many foreign military students, and he said it is obvious that better vetting is needed before allowing these students on the base.

"My view is for us to be bringing in these foreign nationals, you have to take precautions," he said. "I think it's going to be reviewed by the secretary of defense."

DeSantis also said the loophole that permitted Alshamrani to legally purchase a handgun in Florida must be closed.

"I didn't realize foreign nationals were allowed to purchase a firearm," he said. "It was a surprise to me."

DeSantis noted that Alshamrani had been in the United States for about a year and a half.

President Donald Trump said Saudi Arabia King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud phoned him to express his condolences.

"The King said that the Saudi people are greatly angered by the barbaric actions of the shooter, and that this person in no way, shape or form represents the feelings of the Saudi people who love the American people," Trump tweeted.

Republican Florida U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz returned to Florida to coordinate with DeSantis on a response to the attack, which Gaetz is characterized as a "terrorist attack."

He agreed with DeSantis that the shooting demonstrates a "serious failure in the vetting process."

The Pensacola shooting was the second fatal shooting at a naval base this week. A U.S. sailor killed two shipyard workers at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii on Wednesday before killing himself.

Kinsella has invited the loved ones of those dead and injured onto the naval base's Emergency Family Assistance Center this weekend to meet with grief counselors and obtain more information about the investigation. Families can also call 850-452-5990 for assistance.

The base is only open to essential personnel and families who live on base. The National Naval Aviation Museum and the Barrancas National Cemetery are closed to visitors until further notice.

More than 16,000 military personnel and 7,000 civilians are stationed at NAS Pensacola.

In the meantime, 490 miles south of Pensacola, St. Petersburg residents are remembering Haitham, who had surprised his family the week before by coming home unexpectedly for Thanksgiving.

Friends said he was excited after learning he had just been assigned to flight crew training in Florida. He would have graduated from flight training school Dec. 19.

DeSantis noted that Haitham ran toward the gunfire to help.

"He was a her0," DeSantis said

On Sept. 24, Haitham posted a video of his class graduating from boot camp.

Tributes are being posted on Twitter and Facebook reacting to what has proven to be a tragic week for the high school's alumni.

The high school posted this message on its Facebook page:

"This weekend has been tragic, but it has also shown the heroism and courage of two of our alumni.

Mohammed "Mo" Haitham ran track at Lakewood and was very well known. He graduated in 2018 and went on to join the Navy. Tragically Mo was a victim in the Pensacola Navy shooting Friday, but he is also said to have tried to stop the shooter.

Marqueita "Rae" Maynard was the captain of the dancers in the marching band at Lakewood c/o 04. She also loved tennis and played her whole life, working with kids and teaching them the game. Tragically, Marqueita was a victim of domestic violence defending her mother in an attack Friday.

Our hearts go out to their families at this time. They are true heroes and we will miss them dearly."

Lakewood High School

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