24 Oct, 2013 18:13

2 soldiers shot near Millington Naval Base

The US Navy confirms that two people, both soldiers, were injured when a shooter opened fire near Millington Naval Base, just north of Memphis, Thursday afternoon.

The shooting occurred at a Navy property which is leased to the National Guard and manages personnel records, said Patrick Foughty spokesman for Naval Installations Command.

The suspect is in custody, and the lockdown in Millington has been lifted, said the US Navy in a statement. Police arrested the suspect at about 18:10 GMT, added Foughty.

According to media reports the shooting followed an argument among the three soldiers, with one of them opening fire, hitting a man in the leg and another in the foot. Both victims are in non-critical condition, the Navy reported.They were taken to a hospital

The identity of the shooter has not yet been identified, but the Associated Press reports a Navy recruiter relieved of duty earlier that day had been taken into custody, according to a law enforcement official who was briefed of the incident and spoke to the AP anonymously.

West Memphis’ WREG-TV reported earlier that unnamed sources told them the shooter had just been fired, left and returned with a gun.

Naval Support Activity Mid-South has more than 7,500 military, civilian and contract personnel working on the base, according to the facility's official website. The facility is home to human resources operations and serves as headquarters to the Navy Personnel Command, Navy Recruiting Command, the Navy Manpower Analysis Center and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Finance Center.

DEVELOPING: 2 shot at Millington Navy Base in Tennessee; shooter in custody, base on lockdown http://t.co/MfhpP8IZIc pic.twitter.com/6PN9pz0adU
— WSFA 12 News (@wsfa12news) October 24, 2013