Weekend of Drinking, Drug Use Preceded NSA Shootout: Reports

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A weekend of partying by two Baltimore men at a Howard County motel preceded their deadly shootout Monday -- while dressed as women -- at the gates of the National Security Agency at Fort Meade, according to media reports.

One person is dead and two were injured in the incident. Authorities have not released the identities of the two suspects, or the NSA guard injured in the fracas, but CBS News reports the driver of the SUV was killed.

The passenger was also shot, identified by CBS as Kevin Fleming, 20, of Baltimore. Court records show Fleming has been arrested multiple times, including an assault charge.

Initial reports said the “women” were in a car that took a wrong exit and arrived at the NSA gate. They were told to turn around and refused and then rammed the gate.

SEE ALSO: Men Disguised as Women in Deadly Shootout at NSA Gate: Reports

NBC News, though, was one of the first to report that the two civilians appear to have actually been men dressed as women and that gunfire was exchanged. A gun and drugs were found in the stolen Ford Escape the men were riding in, according to NBC News.

Officials told The Washington Post the two suspects spent Sunday night at a Howard County motel.

A spokeswoman for the Howard County Police Department told the Post the SUV involved in the NSA incident was reported stolen from a motel on Route 1 in Jessup on Monday morning.

The owner of the SUV picked up two men dressed as women in Baltimore late Sunday, ABC reports. The three allegedly drove to a hotel in Howard County, where they drank alcohol and used drugs, sources said.

Authorities said the men didn’t have permission to be on the NSA grounds, and were ordered to leave. Instead, the vehicle’s driver “accelerated toward an NSA police car blocking the road” and “refused to stop,” the NSA said in a statement. An NSA police officer opened fire, and one of the two suspects was fatally wounded. Fleming, the SUV passenger, was “severely injured” and taken to a local hospital, according to the agency.

An NSA Police officer injured in the incident was also hospitalized.

FBI agents are investigating with NSA Police and other law enforcement agencies. Federal investigators are working with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Maryland to determine if federal charges are warranted.

Fort Meade’s website posted a message urging service members and civilian employees to share any tips using the Army iWATCH site.

»Photos: Screenshots from Washington Post video

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