Naval Academy Graduate One Of 3 Killed In Pensacola Shootings

ANNAPOLIS, MD — Officials with the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis were deeply saddened to learn that one of three sailors killed in the Dec. 6 shooting at Naval Air Station Pensacola in Florida is a recent graduate. Ensign Joshua Kaleb Watson, 23, had attended the U.S. Naval Academy and set his sights on becoming a military pilot. The Navy identified the other two victims as Airman Mohammed Sameh Haitham, 19, of St. Petersburg, Florida, and Airman Apprentice Cameron Scott Walters, 21, of Richmond Hill, Georgia.

"Josh was a member of 10th company and captained the 2018-2019 Rifle Team. A mechanical engineering major, he service selected and was assigned to naval aviation. Upon commissioning last May, Josh was temporarily assigned to the Naval Academy’s physical education department until he reported to Pensacola to begin the aviation training pipeline last month," the Naval Academy posted on Facebook. "Our hearts are heavy and with the families and friends of Ensign Watson, Airman Haitham and Airman Apprentice Walters, who gave the ultimate sacrifice at the onset of their Naval service. Rest in peace, Shipmates — we have the watch."

Watson has been hailed a hero after more details emerged during the investigation of the shooting. The Naval Academy graduate led first responders to the active shooter in a case that's being presumed to be an act of terrorism, according to the FBI.

In a Facebook post, Watson's brother, Adam, said the Academy graduate "saved countless lives with his own."

"After being shot multiple times he made it outside and told the first response team where the shooter was and those details were invaluable," Adam Watson wrote on Facebook. "He died a hero and we are beyond proud but there is a hole in our hearts that can never be filled."

Watson's father, Benjamin Watson Jr., expressed how heartbroken the family is over his son's death.

"We are beyond proud of Kaleb. We have been informed that he met his attacker that morning. He ran toward the battle for the sake of his comrades and his nation," Benjamin Watson wrote on Facebook. "In his last acts of life, he saved others’ lives. He answered evil with courage and responsibility unarmed, but ready all the same to face it. Kaleb was a qualified as an Expert Marksman with small arms. He trained new midshipmen in small arms at the United States Naval Academy. We, as a nation would have entrusted him on a battlefield somewhere with a wide array of Naval Assets, yet he was asked to answer the call of the 'War on Terror' at home unprotected."

But Watson's father also discussed how his son's senseless death can serve a stepping stone in America.

"Kaleb grew up in a family that honors and treasures our country’s freedoms while also acknowledging our many opportunities for growth and change. Never did we imagine that his death would become one of those opportunities for self-examination for us as a nation. In this season of hope and joy, our pride and joy has been stolen from us. Just as we raised Kaleb to use his every opportunity of responsibility and authority to make a difference, we invite our nation to share our grief and maybe make a difference in our policies and procedures in place to keep our service men and women out of undue harm," Benjamin Watson wrote. "As a hurting family, we ask our nation to please let the story of this young, beautiful, heroic life make us wiser and more responsible as a nation. Please let how Kaleb lived, dreamed and died inspire, empower and enlighten us as a nation not only to our treasured rights but to the wisdom, hard work and unselfishness that must accompany such privileges."

Family and friends of Kaleb Watson have created an online petition in the hopes that he will be posthumously bestowed with his "Wings of Gold" considering in the manner in which he died, saving others.

According to the FBI, Mohammed Alshamrani, a 21-year-old second lieutenant in the Royal Saudi Air Force and a student naval flight officer, is the man who opened fire on the Pensacola base in a classroom building.