The Homeland Security Department and the FBI on Saturday issued a joint intelligence bulletin to law enforcement agencies around the U.S. following the Chattanooga shootings that killed five U.S. service members, saying that the shooter’s motive remains unclear.
This despite a claim by Homeland Security Committee Chairman Rep. Michael McCaul that the shooter was inspired by ISIS.
“We have no information at this time indicating that this incident was either inspired, directed, or assisted by individuals associated with an identified designated foreign terrorist organization,” a U.S. law enforcement official said. “However, the FBI investigation into his activities while overseas and the nature and extent of his affiliation with FTOs (foreign terrorist organizations) is ongoing.”
The law enforcement official said that the suspect, Mohammad Yousef Abdulazeez, 24, who was shot and killed by authorities, became a U.S. citizen in 2003. He previously traveled on at least four separate occasions to Jordan — with the last recorded date of travel between April and November 2014.
“We have no information to date to suggest that these trips were associated with any nefarious or violent extremist activities,” the law enforcement official said.
The bulletin comes hours after U.S. Navy Petty Officer Randall Smith succumbed to injuries he suffered in the Thursday attacks.
Darlene Proxmire, Smith’s step-grandmother, said the logistics specialist was shot in the attack at the Navy Operational Support Center in Chattanooga. It was one of two military sites in the city that authorities say were targeted by Abdulazeez.