Washington D.C., Sep 16, 2013 / 16:31 pm
U.S. leaders are offering prayers for the nation following a shooting at the Navy Yard in southeast Washington, D.C., that left 13 dead and about a dozen more injured.
"I join people of all faiths across our community in praying for the people killed and wounded in the attack at the Navy Yard in Washington, D.C," said Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl, adding that he is also praying for first responders and for family and friends of the victims.
"While many facts are still unknown, our most powerful tool right now is prayer," the Washington cardinal said in a Sept. 16 statement. "The Church always calls us to prayer, particularly in moments of crisis. It is what we do best because it is what the Lord asks us to do."
At about 8:20 a.m. on Sept. 16, numerous shots were fired at the D.C. facility, which contains the headquarters of the Naval Sea Systems Command.
Washington D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier confirmed that at least 13 people were killed in the shooting, including one shooting suspect, identified by the FBI as 34-year-old Aaron Alexis, a military contractor from Texas. Authorities are asking the public for help in finding more information on Alexis and the shooting.