NAS Pensacola Mass Shooting Was Act Of Terrorism, Gaetz Says

December 6, 2019

Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz says the mass shooting Friday morning at NAS Pensacola was an act of terrorism by a Saudi national training at the base.

“This was not a murder. This was an act of terrorism,” Congressman Matt Gaetz said. “This will be treated as an act of terrorism, not a murder.”

The investigation has been handed over from NCIS to the FBI, the congressman said.

“It remains to be seen if whether or not this person acted alone, or whether there were other individuals were involved in the planning, inspiration or execution of this act of terrorism,” Gaetz said.

NorthEscambia.com exclusive photo.

Comments

45 Responses to “NAS Pensacola Mass Shooting Was Act Of Terrorism, Gaetz Says”

  1. Lee on December 10th, 2019 9:16 pm

    I heard on the news that an instructor made a remark to the student about his mustache, calling it a “porn stash.” While that certainly does not justify the student’s actions, I wonder if there were other such occurrences. Again, I am not justifying such violence, just curious. Lots of mean people in this world. Some people will pick on anyone who is different from them. Hopefully, we will learn more about this case. Such senseless loss for all concerned.

  2. simple on December 10th, 2019 1:22 pm

    Not sure what the debate is about. Just ask the people who were shot and shot at if they were terrorized.

  3. Wayne on December 8th, 2019 11:03 am

    Every politician is jumping online with false and misleading supposition.
    They think its a good time before elections to look good
    NO ONE knows what is or is not until the FBI concludes its investigation. Which no one knows that either.
    I dont like what happened one bit, but you also have home grown terrorist that are U.S. born that do the same thing.
    We each have an opinion…but it dont make it true
    Praying for the families of the deceased and injured
    I have a great admiration for all who contributed to help negate this .

  4. David Huie Green on December 8th, 2019 3:09 am

    REGARDING:
    “If yesterday’s actions do not qualify as terrorism, then what does?”

    terrorism:
    the unlawful use of violence and intimidation, especially against civilians, in the pursuit of political aims.

    If he did it to achieve political goals, yes, it meets the definition’s requirements.
    If he did it for other reasons, no, it would not meet the definition’s requirements.

    Investigators should be able to find out the truth. Unless Matt Gaetz actually knows what he is talking about, his words are empty sound — even if he turns out to be correct.

    David for better people
    and Matthew 5:4

  5. Ron Miller on December 7th, 2019 12:04 pm

    Even though it is possible Rep. Garth May know more than we know, I doubt it because those investigating this incident have not said more about it. It is purely speculation, at this point, to think otherwise. There are dissidents in Saudi Arabia,certainly, as there are dissidents here in the U.S. America dissidents. Not every act of murder by a foreign national is an act of terrorism. As law enforcement officials in Florida asked us not to do, jump to conclusions about this situation, I think Rep. Gaetz may have done that, and made a premature statement. Cooler heads will determine the truth.

  6. James Porter on December 7th, 2019 10:56 am

    Why train foreign people’s military=
    “The enemy of my enemy is my friend.” Sun Tuz

    In the past the US needed Saudi oil for survival.
    Now that the US has an excess of oil Saudi oil is needed for the free world to function and not be held hostage by our sworn enemy oil producers.

    Technology just isn’t to where those so called renewable energy sorces can produce enough energy to meet demands at an affordable cost. Even with government subsidies.

    When you don’t like a person’s politics, attack them personally! Most see through that.

  7. Niknak50 on December 7th, 2019 10:16 am

    Its amazing to me that people here are actually denying the definition of the word terrorism. If yesterday’s actions do not qualify as terrorism, then what does? Ask the ones that were wounded and shot at were they terrified? Ask’em!!

  8. tg on December 7th, 2019 8:53 am

    In the end i think he will be proven right.

  9. Glen Merkitch on December 7th, 2019 8:13 am

    Its an Obvious act of terror people. No need to wait for an official statement. He didnt acidently shoot and kill those poor people.Wake up, its not because he was feeling bad about not doing well in class.

  10. Oversight on December 7th, 2019 8:08 am

    To all the nay sayers concerning Gaetz, you’re wrong. This is an act of terrorism. Other Saudi classmates filming the act and the anti-American tirade by the terrorist shooter. I’m sorry you have trouble connecting the dots.

  11. Freda Lee Whaley on December 7th, 2019 6:24 am

    “Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz says the mass shooting Friday morning at NAS Pensacola was an act of terrorism by a Saudi national training at the base.”

    I’d nominate Matt Gaetz for the idiot of the year award. He comes out with this statement not having a clue as to why this happened. A man full of hate does not need to be a Florida Congressman. Shame on him.

  12. wilykyote on December 7th, 2019 4:49 am

    some facts: we want their oil. we need access to air bases in their area.
    the average Saudi IQ is a whopping 84. if they buy
    Aircraft (oil money running out of their ears) then they
    need pilots. about 75 years ago they were riding camels
    and eating dates by the millions. now they have millions
    of billions of dollars . would it be good or bad if their
    allegiance was not the USA ? kinda complicated huh?

  13. molino jim on December 6th, 2019 9:27 pm

    Gaetz only wants the press. Sounds like his friend “big daddy” Trump. I’m old enough to remember when we were training cuban pilots in the late 50″s. This was before Castro over threw the government. The PNJ ran a front page with “ARE WE TRAINING CASTRO’S PILOTS” the young pilots were all dropped from the program. We have trained other pilots over the years to help them fly the aircraft we sell their countries. As far as 9-11 some of you need to reread the history a little bit closer. The pilots were trained in this country by private companies. There was a young female FBI agent who reported the fact that they wanted to be trained on the larger aircraft and higher agents ignored her report. Some one said we was failing and would be washed out— that’s good bet.

  14. Fed Up on December 6th, 2019 8:59 pm

    I agree with Michael Hearst, stop training foreigners.

  15. Mike on December 6th, 2019 8:55 pm

    If this guy was Iranian, I am sure there would be a unison scream: bomb Iran, obliterate them. But he was Saudi, just like 15 out of 19 Saudis of 9/11 and the comments here are: no no, don’t rush to conclusions, they are friends … Well, remember US friends in the fight against USSR, Taliban and Al Qaida. here we go, the same friends doing it again. The Saudi government – no, no! Just plain Saudis6 whatever the government is saying.

  16. Mike on December 6th, 2019 8:47 pm

    Steve Godwin on December 6th, 2019 2:39 pm
    Matt Gaetz is a disgrace to our government! He does not know if the act was terrorism. Saudi Arabia is an ally with the U.S.
    Sure, 15 out of 19 9/11 terrorists were Saudis, Saudis were openly behind Islamic State in Iraq, Syria and the rest of Middle East, and we still think they are our friends. Their government may say whatever they want, they are our best friends etc., but their citizen’s actions show what is the truth. You can vilify Iranians all day long, or Russians and Ukrainians, but look at the actions log to make it all clear.

  17. J.Larry Seale on December 6th, 2019 8:37 pm

    Gaetz is right this time !!!!!!!

    How many women has been raped and murder by Saudi
    Students ????? And every time the Saudi
    Goverment gives them a new passport and
    flys them out of the country before the law can grab them ??????

  18. David on December 6th, 2019 7:26 pm

    Gaetz …is not the one that makes the call if it is or is not terrorism
    That is a call for experienced intelligent trained professionals
    Waaayy above his pay grade

  19. Devona Chance-Gulley on December 6th, 2019 7:13 pm

    Please let the investigators do their job. Matt Gaetz is just trying to stir up hatred and fear. The same thing happen at Pear Harbor the other day. I didn’t hear anyone hollering terrorism then. If the your definition of terrorism is to induce terror. Wouldn’t the shooting at Pear Harbor be classified as terrorism. I’m quite sure that people there were terrified.

  20. Steven Gimlin on December 6th, 2019 6:02 pm

    Lets all wait until the investigation is finlish before start blaming any one.

  21. Valiant Thor on December 6th, 2019 5:49 pm

    When Matt Gaetz isn’t recklessly barging into Congressional committee meetings, he’s making reckless comments about a situation that the complete facts are not known on.

  22. Osama Been on December 6th, 2019 5:32 pm

    Could not disagree with the statement below more…

    He may know a bit more than you…

    Steve Godwin on December 6th, 2019 2:39 pm
    Matt Gaetz is a disgrace to our government! He does not know if the act was terrorism. Saudi Arabia is an ally with the U.S.

  23. All about oil, and we need to get away from it on December 6th, 2019 5:15 pm

    If you’re tired of defending the Saudis, training the Saudis, covering up for the Saudis, shedding blood for the Saudis, schmoozing and even bowing to the Saudis, allowing Saudis to buy land, giving money to the Saudis, and Saudis killing Americans in our own nation and around the world… then wake up!

    It’s all about oil and energyl… and it’s our own dollars that fund them and drive policies supporting Saudi Arabia.

    With the planet’s ecology in alarming decline, and the climate rapidly changing nearly month to month, due greatly to never ending petroleum use, our nation needs to rapidly transform to domestic renewable energy sources. We’ve given enough American money and blood for that nation, and we need to invest and support tapping our own energy sources, even if it costs more in the short term. Besides, the hotter the climate becomes, the greater the Arabic refugee push into our European allies.

  24. dreamboat annie on December 6th, 2019 5:11 pm

    Matt Gaetz .. Thank YOU for your courage to speak the truth, EVERY day!

  25. Dale on December 6th, 2019 5:11 pm

    The Saudi student pilots are sent here for training at the expense of the Saudi kingdom. The student that fails is sent back home and most likely executed for bringing shame to the royal family. Could be the shooter was about to be washed out and knowing his fate at home, he decided to take a few with him especially those he believed were responsible for his failure. Just guessing.

  26. Two sides on December 6th, 2019 5:02 pm

    Maybe he was being bullied, there are always two sides. Thanks to ECSO we will never hear his side.

  27. Sandie on December 6th, 2019 4:52 pm

    Matt Gretz is a moron, and I assure you Trump will do nothing to make his Saudi buddies upset..

  28. Hmmmm on December 6th, 2019 4:51 pm

    Gaetz knows he’ll get a lot more attention if he calls this terrorism. His name is already in the headlines. That’s a lot more dramatic than if it was just a case of a highly stressed student a million miles from home, failing his classes, flipping out and snapping.

    It could be terrorism. It just seems like it would be too early to tell, unless he left some sort of manifesto. But for the amount of work it probably took for this Saudi to get here, in those classes, etc. you’d think he would have been going for something bigger than an attack with a handgun.

    Not minimizing what happened and feel terrible for the victims and their families.

  29. Elizabeth St Germain on December 6th, 2019 4:50 pm

    So we was training this Saudi at one of our Naval bases same as the Saudi’s that were trained here to fly our planes into the WTC makes no sense,no middle easterns should be trained at our bases to be able to commit these heinous crimes I pray for all involved

  30. Paul Springer on December 6th, 2019 4:48 pm

    1. time and investigation will hopefully establish all the facts. How did he get here, how was he vetted, were others involved, etc.?
    2. as a congressman, he “might” just have a little more info than is being reported in the press, but (as in previous admins) if it is terror, let’s call it terror. NCIS and FBI don’t investigate “local murders”
    3. to call him a “disgrace” shows bias on just a few facts yourself
    4. it was an “act” of terrorism indeed. Whether it was religiously motivated or work related, we will see, Gaetz did not say motive.
    5. it IS an international incident and will be treated as such.
    6. pray for all those involved.

  31. Wrong........ on December 6th, 2019 4:39 pm

    @Steve Godwin, Gaetz is not as bad as many of our current “leaders” and honestly doesn’t do that bad of a job compared to some alternatives. Also, get your facts straight about the Saudi’s being our “allies”…….15 of the 19 terrorists that attacked us on 9/11 were of Saudi origin. Saudi isn’t an ally as much as just a business partner. They tolerate our existence because they need/desire our money. If not they’d cut our throats as fast as the Al Queda animals murdered non-believers in Pakistan or Afghanistan.

  32. Kevin on December 6th, 2019 4:34 pm

    Send every Saudi student back to where they came from, Why train these SOB’s here so they can learn to kill us,

  33. Christine Domijan on December 6th, 2019 4:22 pm

    Please knee jerk responses do nothing let us give everyone time to check the facts before we pronounce anyone as a disgrace or call names

  34. Jimmy Chambers on December 6th, 2019 4:20 pm

    I guess that we didn’t learn anything from the first time
    (Great Lakes, Naval Training Center, Illinois).

  35. Gill Silva on December 6th, 2019 4:00 pm

    “Mentally unstable” or “Act of terrorism”, depending on the agenda on how the media and Congressman Geitz puts it.

  36. BB on December 6th, 2019 3:40 pm

    There are International students attending classes at our universities and our military installations nationwide…just because he was a Saudi Arabian national DOES NOT mean he was a terrorist…get real people.

  37. Mary on December 6th, 2019 3:09 pm

    It was a terror attack. What else would it have been? Nothing to do with his race, everything to do with the fact it caused terror and his intention was to kill.

  38. Jennifer on December 6th, 2019 3:09 pm

    Steve, they were supposedly our ally on 9-11 too. Yet the vast majority of the hijackers were Saudi nationals.

  39. Christian Horne on December 6th, 2019 3:05 pm

    @Steve Godwin

    15 of the 19 September 11th hijackers were Saudi citizens….
    Did you forget?

  40. Larry Rowland on December 6th, 2019 2:58 pm

    I agree with Matt ! Also we need to quit training other countries Here. If you think Saudi is such an ally you apparently have forgotten who were trained and flying those planes into the Trade Centers on 911. Yes Saudi scumbags. I would imagine that this shooter is probably a registered demoncrat as well .

  41. Steve Godwin on December 6th, 2019 2:39 pm

    Matt Gaetz is a disgrace to our government! He does not know if the act was terrorism. Saudi Arabia is an ally with the U.S.

  42. Joanna Austin on December 6th, 2019 2:27 pm

    How do they know that it was a terrorist act?

  43. Dinahyates on December 6th, 2019 2:25 pm

    Keep these bastards out of our country

  44. Michael Hearst on December 6th, 2019 2:13 pm

    Since this happened, I feel and several people agree with me that the US need to stop training foreigners. I am tired of baby sitting and talking care of people from other countries. Why us? Let them take care of their own. Nobody takes care of us. This just bit us in the rear!

  45. Vanessa Sligar on December 6th, 2019 2:03 pm

    It has not been determined to be an act of terrorism. Gaetz actually said they are investigating the possibilities terrorism. A loss source said the Saudi student was failing and it was more of a workplace violence situation rather than terrorism. Time will tell us