Marine base shooting an apparent double murder-suicide

QUANTICO, Va. A Marine who worked at a rigorous school that tests Marines who want to become officers fatally shot two of his colleagues before killing himself in a barracks dorm room.

The three Marines — two men and a woman — were part of the staff at the officer candidates school on the sprawling Marine Corps Base Quantico in northern Virginia. Their relationship and whether they knew one another was not clear, though military officials described the shootings as "isolated." They did not release the identities of those slain.

CBS News correspondent Bob Orr reports from Quantico that no motive has yet been established or released by authorities.

Around 10:30 p.m. Thursday, authorities found one Marine dead in the Taylor Hall barracks, base commander Col. David W. Maxwell said. A second victim and the gunman were also located in Taylor Hall, a red brick building that can house about 110 Marines.

Only Marines who work at the school live in Taylor Hall. The candidates for officer live elsewhere on the base.

It wasn't immediately clear how much time passed between the killings or how far apart the bodies were.

After the first shooting, Marines and their families were told to stay inside over a loudspeaker known as the "giant voice." The lockdown was lifted about 2:30 a.m. Friday.

Base spokesman Lt. Agustin Solivan said everyone else was safe, including the officer candidates.

Officials did not say what the three Marines did at the school, which is known for its grueling 10-week program that evaluates candidates on physical stamina, intelligence and leadership. The candidates must complete obstacle courses, hikes of up to 12 miles in full combat gear and take classes on navigation and tactics that help them lead in the field, according to the school's website.

Some are sent home. Those that do graduate become second lieutenants. Along with the U.S. Naval Academy, the school is the way most Marines become officers.

"Officer candidates school training will be more demanding than any you've experienced before, regardless of commissioning program," according to the website.

The Corps advises candidates to train by running four to six miles, twice a week, and to have body fat levels that do not exceed 18 percent for men or 26 percent for women.

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Seven Marines dead in training accident

The shooting was the second tragedy the Marine Corps faced this week. Seven members of the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force were killed Monday when a mortar shell exploded in its firing tube during an exercise at Hawthorne Army Depot in Nevada. Eight others were injured.

Maxwell referenced the Nevada deaths in his remarks, choking up as he told reporters that chaplains at Quantico would be providing counseling for Marines and their families.

"I want to express my sincere condolences to the families, friends and fellow Marines of the three Marines we lost last night," Maxwell said. "Our thoughts and prayers are with them at this time. This is a tragic loss for our Marine Corps family."

Maxwell said he anticipates a "lengthy investigation" and did not expect the identities of the shooter or the victims to be released until at least Saturday.

Pentagon press secretary George Little said Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel was saddened.

"This tragedy, as well as the tragedy in Nevada earlier this week, took the lives of Marines who volunteered to serve their nation," Little said. "His heart and his prayers are with them and their families."

The Quantico base, which is 37 miles south of Washington, is also home to the FBI's training academy.

In 2010, the base was one of several targets of an ex-Marine reservist who, during five nighttime shootings, fired on military targets including the Pentagon. Yonathan Melaku, on two separate occasions, fired at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Quantico. No one was injured and Melaku was sentenced to 25 years in prison.

[nursedeb49]

you know it use to be you couldn't go in the service if your feet were too flat, now it seems they take every mental case that signs up, really need to screen better. Many parents who have kids that have a history of behavior issues are under the belief that the military will do them good, the military can be a huge mental strain, and they shouldn't take people in who've shown they are already a bit unstable.

[mtracy99]

Guns don't kill
people. Right-wing
nuts with guns kill people.

[cobalt100]

This and other unfortunate deaths in the Marine Corp are not tragedies. They are more like favorable outcomes.

[Maxx__Velocity]

Clearly we need to have a federal ban on Marines.

[keote_poet]

i say keep the marines...
let's have a federal ban on the NRA...
oh yeah, throw in all republicans as well...haha

[NannyStateResident]

Clearly we need better background checks for Marines before they are allowed to have weapons. Also, thirty day cooling off periods and limits of one round per magazine and one gun per battalion or base. Think of the children of Newtown (you didn't think I would forget them did you?) how many tragedies like this need to happen before we come to our senses? Disarm the military NOW. Evil firearms are the root cause of this and all other tragedies. They cause child abuse too!

[retmw1]

Clearly nuts like you belong in a padded room.

[SenOrtega]

Not that this would do much...even with a nerf bat a marine would F you up.

[allthistoregister]

My prediction... Love triangle. As another stated before, this stuff has been happening since the dawn of man people.

[hemusbull]

You are allready there...

[margroks]

Please stop with the end times nonsense. People have always been like this and that is well documented in the Bible you thump. No one knows when the end will come and people should stop trying to fake that they do.

[1history]

We've got to stop training our Marines to use weapons! We can't even blame this on the NRA. What are we supposed to say? Oh, yeah, it's George Bush's fault.

[raymailhot]

The obvious problem is being skirted a bit! America definitely has a mental health issue. With the billions spent on mental health and pharmaceuticals each year and yet the obvious rate of deterioration, it is very apparent the return on investments should be questioned!

Or do we see each tragedy in our society as an opportunity to further our political agendas?

[keote_poet]

mental health people with guns is the issue

[worlhood]

This report was a very powerful segment. These parents are two very thoughtful, conscientious people who are approaching this horrible tragedy with an incredible amount of civility, dignity, deep reflection and constraint. They are models for how I hope I would act if ever faced with such a situation. We should all learn from them.

[TxCharliex]

Not so fast in saying it was a simple murder-suicide or workplace violence - I want to hear whether the shooter had an Arab name and close ties with terrorists like the one at Fort Hood had.

I also still want the victims at Fort Hood given Purple Hearts and re-classified to war causalities instead of workplace violence, since it was a terrorist attack masterminded from a war zone.

It is absolutely absurd and shameful that Obama as Commander in Chief is not properly honoring his war-related dead and wounded soldiers. He deserves impeachment on that basis alone.

[KPeters_from_UK]

Ok but let's first try Bush, Cheney and Rumsfeld for war crimes. Their crime lead to the death of 4488 American Soldiers.

[CBS_Fan2117]

True, Bush, Cheney and Rumsfeld are true war criminals and should be in jail. TXCHARLIEX is just another Obama hater based primarily on race. These people sicken me.