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Pentagon Shooter Killed by Police


Tthe Pentagon (file photo)
Tthe Pentagon (file photo)

U.S. officials say the gunman who opened fire outside the Pentagon Thursday before being fatally shot by police was armed with two semi-automatic weapons.

Pentagon police chief Richard Keevill says John Patrick Bedell was carrying several magazines of ammunition and had additional ammunition in his car, which was parked in a nearby garage.

Three security officers returned fire after Bedell began shooting outside of the military complex near Washington. Two of the officers were initially hospitalized with minor injures but have since been released.

Authorities say a surveillance video shows Bedell was calm, well-dressed and appeared to be alone as he walked directly toward the police officers and began shooting.

Keevill says authorities do not know the motive for the shooting but there are no indications that the incident is related to domestic or international terrorism.

The shooting prompted officials to temporarily impose a security lockdown at the Pentagon.

The police chief described Bedell as a "well-educated" man from (from the western state of) California.

News organizations have described internet postings from a person identified as JPatrickBedell who indicated he had suspicions about the terror attacks on September 11, 2001 in the United States.

Some information for this report provided by AP, Reuters and AFP.

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