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Developing: Shooting At U.S. Navy Yard In Washington, D.C.

The scene outside the Washington Navy Yard shortly after Monday morning's shooting incident.
Jacquelyn Martin
The scene outside the Washington Navy Yard shortly after Monday morning's shooting incident.

Police monitor the scene near the Navy Yard. Shots were fired around 8:20 a.m.
Jacquelyn Martin
Police monitor the scene near the Navy Yard. Shots were fired around 8:20 a.m.

Police have closed off roads near the Navy Yard. Employees have been told to shelter in place and stay away from windows.
Jacquelyn Martin
Police have closed off roads near the Navy Yard. Employees have been told to shelter in place and stay away from windows.

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A police helicopter flies overhead as police walk on the roof of a building during the response to the shooting.
Joshua Roberts
A police helicopter flies overhead as police walk on the roof of a building during the response to the shooting.

A U.S. Park Police helicopter removes a man in a basket from the Navy Yard.
Jacquelyn Martin
A U.S. Park Police helicopter removes a man in a basket from the Navy Yard.

The nation's capital went on high alert Monday morning after a shooting incident at the city's U.S. Navy Yard that caused multiple casualties -- including, according to news reports, federal law enforcement sources and medical personnel, at least a few deaths.

The first shots were fired around 8:20 a.m. ET in a building on the grounds of the facility, the Navy confirmed just minutes later.

Initially, there was word that only a few people had been injured and that only one gunman was responsible. Among those hurt, according to reports from emergency personnel, was a police officer who was struck at least twice.

But at 10:04 a.m. ET, the Navy added that there had been "reports of fatalities." It wasn't clear whether the Navy was reporting that there had been deaths, or that it was just acknowledging that there had been such reports. Federal law enforcement sources told NPR a short time later that there had been "multiple fatalities."

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Just before 11:45 a.m. ET., Dr. Janis Orlowski of MedStar Washington Hospital Center said that at her hospital, "we understand that there are individuals at the scene who will not be transported because they are deceased."

It also wasn't clear in the first couple hours whether there may have been more than one attacker.

Immediately after the shots were fired, the area around the Navy Yard in southeast Washington was filled with police and emergency personnel.

We're updating as more news comes in. Our colleagues at WAMU are following the story here. As happens when news such as this is breaking, there will be conflicting accounts. We'll focus on information from authorities in a position to know what's going on and from news outlets with reporters at or near the scene. If things change, we'll pass along that information.

Update at 11:44 a.m. ET. More On Fatalities:

"We understand that there are individuals at the scene who will not be transported [to a hospital] because they are deceased," says Dr. Janis Orlowski of MedStar Washington Hospital Center.

Update at 11:36 a.m. ET. Three Of Wounded In Critical Condition:

At the MedStar Washington Hospital Center, spokeswoman Dr. Janis Orlowski just told reporters that the three people brought there are in critical condition. They are expected to survive their gunshot wounds, she added.

Update at 11:25 a.m. ET. ATF Team At Scene:

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has about "20 specially trained, locally stationed special agents" at the scene, NPR's Carrie Johnson reports. She says it's the same team that was instrumental in capturing accused Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev.

Update at 11:17 a.m. ET. Families Told To Gather At Nearby Stadium:

"Family members may reunite at Nationals Stadium Parking Lot B, South Capitol & N St SE," the Navy tweets. (Earlier, the Navy mistakenly said the parking lot was at the corner of K St.)

Update at 11:08 a.m. ET. Federal Law Enforcement Sources Say There Have Been "Multiple Fatalities":

Two federal law enforcement sources, who caution that the information is still preliminary, tell NPR's Carrie Johnson that there have "multiple fatalities."

Update at 10:55 a.m. ET. Building Being "Swept" As Search Continues:

We're aware that other news outlets have reported that their may have been more than one shooter. But there have not been any official statements to that effect. Emergency personnel have spoken on their radio broadcasts of a "possible" second suspect in the building. As you would expect, police are sweeping the building. Earlier, there were reports of a gunman barricaded in a room.

There's also no official word yet on the number of people injured and possibly killed. The latest statement from the Navy repeats that "several people were injured and there are reports of fatalities."

Update at 10:32 a.m. ET. "A Lot Of Criticals."

Sobering news from the emergency personnel radio traffic: "We have a lot of criticals."

Update at 10:22 a.m. ET. Flying Again At Reagan National:

The Washington Airports Authority "says the ground stop that had been in effect at Reagan National has now been lifted," NPR's Brian Naylor tells us.

Update at 10:10 a.m. ET. Obama Briefed:

"The president has been briefed several times about the unfolding situation at the Washington Navy Yard by Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Lisa Monaco and Deputy Chief of Staff Alyssa Mastromanaco," the White House says.

Update at 10:03 a.m. ET. Only Outbound Flights Affected:

NPR's Brian Naylor tells us that "according to the Washington Metropolitan Airports Authority, the FAA has requested a stop on all outbound flights from Reagan National. Inbound flights are still landing, and the airport is open. But no planes are taking off."

Update at 9:54 a.m. ET. Reagan Airport On Hold:

Flights into the nearby Reagan National Airport are on hold, and flights on the ground are behind held. There are a lot of helicopters in the air around the Navy Yard, as you might imagine.

Update at 9:40 a.m. ET. Gunman Barricaded In Room?

The Washington Post tweets that:

"Police: Lone gunman has barricaded himself in room after shooting http://wapo.st/149NSPY #NavyYardShooting."

Update at 9:32 a.m. ET. "Shotgun Or Rifle":

According to WAMU, "a possible suspect armed with a shotgun or rifle has shot and injured at least four people. A police officer has also been reportedly shot." D.C. emergency personnel have been heard on their radio calls saying that a police officer was "struck twice in the leg."

Update at 9:25 a.m. ET. Report: "At Least Three People" Shot.

"D.C. police are looking for a suspect they say shot at least three people at the Washington Navy Yard," The Washington Post writes.

Update at 9:22 a.m. ET. Emergency Radio Calls:

There's a live stream of fire and emergency personnel's radio calls here.

Update at 9:13 a.m. ET. At Least One Person Injured:

The Navy tweets that it "confirms 1 injury. "Shelter in place" order issued for Navy Yard personnel. #NavyYardShooting."

Update at 9:10 a.m. ET. Live Coverage:

Washington's News Channel 8 live coverage is streaming here.

Update at 9:01 a.m. ET. About The Building Where The Shooting Has Occurred.

The Navy just posted this news release:

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- An active shooter was reported inside the Naval Sea Systems Command Headquarters building (Bldg. 197) on the Washington Navy Yard at 8:20 a.m. (Eastern Time).

There is one confirmed injury. Emergency personnel are on scene and a "shelter in place" order has been issued for Navy Yard personnel.

The Naval Sea Systems Command's headquarters is the work place for about 3,000 people.

The organization is comprised of command staff, headquarters directorates, affiliated Program Executive Offices (PEOs) and numerous field activities. Together, we engineer, build, buy and maintain ships, submarines and combat systems that meet the Fleet's current and future operational requirements.

Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) is the largest of the Navy's five system commands. With a fiscal year budget of nearly $30 billion, NAVSEA accounts for one quarter of the Navy's entire budget. With a force of 60,000 civilian, military and contract support personnel, NAVSEA engineers, builds, buys and maintains the Navy's ships and submarines and their combat systems.
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