Maryland Reacts to Navy Yard Tragedy, 5 Victims Had State Ties

By Tiffany Arnold

At least five of the 13 victims of Monday's shooting rampage at the Washington Navy Yard had Maryland ties, police announced, as officials and residents stopped to contemplate the loss of life at the hands of Aaron Alexis, 34, of Fort Worth.

The names of some of the victims have been released: Michael Arnold, 59; Sylvia Frasier, 53; Kathy Gaarde, 62; John Roger Johnson, 73; Frank Kohler, 50; Kenneth Bernard Proctor, 46; and Vishnu Pandit, 61, The Washington Post reports.

Pandit was from North Potomac and Johnson lived in Derwood for more than 30 years; Frasier and Proctor were from Charles County; Kohler was from St. Mary's County, The Post reports.

President Obama, who called the shooting "cowardly,” has ordered that flags fly at half staff until sunset Friday.

“These are men and women who were going to work, doing their job, protecting all of us,” Obama said. “They’re patriots, and they know the dangers of serving abroad—but today, they faced unimaginable violence that they wouldn't have expected here at home.”

Maryland lawmakers also condemned the shooting, attributed by officials to Alexis, a Navy veteran and contractor who reportedly entered the Navy Yard using another person's identification badge.

“An attack on the people tasked with keeping this nation safe is beyond unacceptable,” Sen. Ben Cardin, D-MD, said in a statement. “While we are still waiting to for a better understanding of the events to emerge, it is my hope that all those who were responsible will be brought to justice.”

Rep. John Delaney, D-MD, also expressed his sadness.

“Today’s raw suffering will not quickly fade,” Delaney said in a statement. “As a country, we join in prayer for the victims and their families. The words of ‘The Navy Hymn’ are fitting against tonight’s bleak sundown, ‘Eternal Father … Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee!’”

In Montgomery County, the Gaithersburg and Rockville City Councils began their meetings Monday night with a moment of silence. Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker also issued a statement.

“The stories, accounts and images from today’s horrible event will be forever etched in our minds,” Baker said. “As the days go by we will learn how this tragedy occurred, but we will struggle with reconciling why.”