"NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) – The Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) has confirmed the civilian gunman who opened fire on board USS Mahan Monday, killing a Sailor, is 35-year-old Jeffrey T. Savage of Portsmouth.
Court documents obtained by WAVY News 10 show a Jeffrey T. Savage of Portsmouth has a criminal history, including a manslaughter conviction in North Carolina in 2008. We have reason to believe it is the same person.
Capt. Robert E. Clark, Jr., commanding officer, Naval Station Norfolk, said the shooting happened on board USS Mahan at Pier 1 Monday around 11:20 p.m. when a male civilian, now identified as Savage, shot and killed Master-at-Arms 2nd Class Mark A. Mayo, 24. Savage was confronted by ship security, a struggle occurred and Savage disarmed the petty officer of the watch. He then used that weapon to fatally shoot MA2 Mayo. Security forces responding to reports of shots fired then killed Savage.
Savage was an employee of Majette Trucking.
Capt. Clark confirmed Savage had a valid Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) ID when he gained access to the base just after 11 p.m.. According to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), you can obtain a TWIC card even with a criminal history.
NCIS investigators have determined Savage had no reason to be at the base.
MA2 Mayo enlisted in the U.S. Navy in October 2007 and began working in Norfolk in May 2011.
"Petty Officer Mayo’s actions on Monday evening were nothing less than heroic. He selflessly gave his own life to ensure the safety of the Sailors on board USS Mahan (DDG 72),” said Capt. Robert E. Clark, Jr., commanding officer, Naval Station Norfolk.
Paul Stone with the Armed Forces Medical Examiner’s Office said autopsies have been performed on MA2 Mayo and the civilian suspect. He told WAVY.com the results will likely take four to six weeks. The results will immediately be handed over to the NCIS, which is the lead investigating agency.
Stone said the autopsy was done at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth Tuesday. Toxicology tests will also be performed.
Mario Palomino, Special Agent in Charge NCIS, said during a Wednesday afternoon news conference the agency has ruled out terrorism as a motive. He said preliminary evidence does not indicate this was a pre-planned attack.
There is no motive for Savage’s actions.
Apparently another breakdown in military base/facilities security (Ft. Hood, Norfolk, and Naval Yard, DC).
When is someone going to learn to do the job properly, or has security been compromised by PCism? With Mabus being the Secy of the Navy, you can answer that question by yourself.
I would say that Mabus is not the Secretary of the Navy, but is the “Secretary of the Queens’ Navy” (thank you HMS Pinafore, Doilie Carte Opera, 1953).