(CHATTANOOGA) The names of the five officers who discharged their weapons, killing Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez in a July 16 shooting at a Chattanooga military service center, were released Monday.
The FBI, United States Attorney's Office, and Chattanooga Police Department cleared the names for release.
Abdulazeez fatally shot five U.S. servicemen at the Naval Operation Center on Amincola Highway.
In a statement from the Chattanooga Police, granted with the permission of the officers, these names were released: Officer Lucas Timmons; Officer Kevin Flanagan; Officer Jeff Lancaster; Officer Sean O’Brien; and Officer Grover Wilson.
CPD said per their policy, an administration review of this incident was conducted. The Chattanooga Police Department has completed the review.
“The officers who fired their weapons on this tragic day did so in heroic defense of themselves and others,” said Chief of Police Fred Fletcher. “There is no evidence that this use of force was anything other than justified. I am proud of their actions and humbled by the risks they faced.”
Chattanooga Police Officer Dennis Pedigo was wounded in the attack and is still recovering.
President Obama earlier this month called the Chattanooga shootings an act of terror, saying "Terrorists turn to less complicated acts of violence like the mass shootings that are all too common in our society. It is this type of attack that we saw at Fort Hood in 2009. In Chattanooga earlier this year."
Afterward, FBI Director James Comey told reporters that the July 16 attacks in Chattanooga were "inspired by terrorist organization propaganda."
