I found myself at 7:10 Friday morning driving east in light traffic, watching the building westbound traffic I would have to join once I completed my errand.
I was surprised to see an unmarked, and uncharacteristic model, police vehicle coming west. It was tailgated by an ambulance, both with lights and the usual sirens. These two were in a big hurry, taking to the grass median periodically rather than suffering any pause. My immediate thought was a motor vehicle accident likely would surely have traffic snarled somewhere I would soon drive on my return trip westbound. Not two miles further I saw a Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) SUV also headed east. It was moving as fast as I had ever seen in city traffic. Safety seemed the driver's last concern. I concluded this was likely a very serious accident.
By 7:30, I was westbound having completed my errand, and turned on a phone app that warns of traffic. It showed nothing out of the ordinary.
I had driven six miles back west and started over what is referred to as "the three-mile bridge" into Pensacola. I was listening to a nationally syndicated radio show and frankly had quit wondering about those vehicles. The national show paused from entertainment to announce "There has been an incident in one of our markets, we have no details, but we are going to announce it." They proceeded to say there had been an "active shooter" at Pensacola Naval Air Station, several miles further west from the OJCC office, my destination.
Friday included many updates and conversations. There was a general feeling of dread that surrounded us with repeated visits to various news sites in hopes of an update. Very early, we heard that there were two dead, including the shooter. That grew to three, then to four. There were others shot, but the number was unclear and reports vacillated. The news featured the fact that a weapon had been brought to essentially a "gun-free" zone. The military has some of the strictest constraints on weapon possession.
I spoke Friday morning to a man whose son was on the base. He described his and his family's efforts to make contact. These events touch many lives both in the moment, in the location, and elsewhere and later. News reports since have documented many anxious attempts to contact family members in those early moments and throughout the morning. The man I spoke to was fortunate to have received an answer to his call but got only "I'm O.K., can't talk," and was hung up on. A terse and brief message, but welcome nonetheless.
By Friday afternoon, There had been interviews broadcast with the mayor of Pensacola, the County Sheriff, our Governor, and others. Among that, one statement stuck with me though I can no longer recall an attribution: (we are) "investigating whether this is terrorism or merely workplace violence." The quote struck me for two reasons. First, workplace "anything" is what we do and workplace violence is a phrase we hear too often. Second, this was the first mention of the word "terrorism" regarding Friday's attack. I think many of us react to that word, its implications, and its weight.
Friday, there were unofficial (on condition of anonymity) and later more verified reports that the shooter was a foreign national, from Saudi Arabia. The news included references to that country, and explanations of both the logic and extent of military training delivered in the U.S. to foreign nationals, and our allies. It appears from those reports that a great many people travel here to receive such training and that Pensacola is merely one of the various destinations.
Friday night, I received a text from far away. It detailed that the local high school wrestling team's assistant coach, Ryan Blackwell, is on active duty Navy, and suffered wounds Friday. Before going into surgery, Airman Blackwell was concerned about his team/students, and before going into surgery called the team coach to advise that "he won’t make this weekend’s wrestling tournament," according to a Facebook post. I would like to think I would maintain such focus and composure if I were shot three times. I see in the contact the recognition that others are affected, though miles away. This coach faced uncertainty and injury but focused on those who would be worried about him.
On Saturday, we learned the first victim's name. MSN reported "Joshua Kaleb Watson, 23, a recent graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy" was identified by his family as a victim. They described how he was wounded, and yet managed to reach responding law enforcement to inform them of the shooter's location. Joshua was from Alabama and was training to be a naval aviator.
Later in the day, the Tampa Times reported that Mohammed Haitham of St. Petersburg was a victim. He came to St. Petersburg after Katrina drove his family from Louisiana. He was 19, a former track star. He had just finished boot camp and was involved in flight school training: "he was looking forward to graduating from the flight school program Dec. 19" according to his mother. Officials told his mother that Mohammed "did try to stop the shooter.”
Sunday morning brought an announcement of the names of all three deceased. Fox News described Kaleb and Mohammed, and added the name of "Airman Apprentice Cameron Scott Walters, 21, of Richmond Hill, Ga." Less has as yet been publicized about Cameron. While there is a national impact of this attack, it is noteworthy that these three hail from Alabama, Florida, and Georgia, with a connection to Louisiana. There is much pain in the South this morning.
I won't waste time discussing the shooter. Details on his life, motivations, and activities are readily available in the press. All that bears mentioning is that he was shot and killed Friday. There are conflicting reports on details, but it appears he was killed by one or both of the two responding Escambia County Deputies who were also wounded Friday. Saturday's news said one of those has been discharged from the hospital already. There have been news reports that at least suggest Navy police were responsible for stopping the shooter. I am grateful both for whoever stopped him and for the many who sped to the scene to both protect and treat.
As mentioned, there is a discussion of whether this is workplace violence or terrorism. I would suggest that while such a distinction could be relevant in some contexts, it does not change that three young men are dead and several other people have been wounded. It is notable, also, that these shootings occurred "even though firearms are not permitted at the base" according to Fox News. Shootings seem to often occur in places where guns are not permitted. There is a discussion of how the shooter obtained the gun used, as reported by the Pensacola News Journal. There will likely be more on these issues in the coming days.
The fact is that whether workplace violence or terrorism, there is risk in the world today. Unfortunately, tragically, people will get hurt, and some killed. In the present context, the connection to Florida workers' compensation is one of community. Some news reports say the military and local law enforcement have conducted joint training in response to such events. Friday's press conferences reiterated that. It is noteworthy that whoever killed the shooter, two Escambia Sheriff's deputies are among the wounded. Local law enforcement responded to the threat with a resolve not perceived in some other tragic instances.
For that risk of injury and death, there is a safety net of workers' compensation. It is, by all accounts, an imperfect system. Many have complaints about workers' compensation in anecdotal and even systemic perspectives. But, with its flaws, workers' compensation is with us, daily, for those risks. It is insurance, which requires underwriting. That is, mathematicians and actuaries must discern the probability of injury and payments. Based on that, regulators can determine how much a carrier can charge as a premium for assuming that risk.
But, we learned after September 11, 2001, that predicting or anticipating risk can be quite a task in the realm of terrorism. In this one context, it may be quite relevant whether a particular act is terrorism. Following that 2001 terrorism, Congress stepped in to provide national support and continuity in the event of terrorism. See Congress Adjourns - No TRIA Re-Authorization Yet and Federal Terrorism Backstop Re-authorization Now Seems Certain. This is a legislative methodology to provide consistency and national focus to what may be very local events. It is supportive of companies continuing to provide workers' compensation insurance even in the face of the threat of terrorism that may be more geographically localized.
Business Insurance reported in October that the U.S. House had moved the proposal to reauthorize TRIA (there have been various names for the bill and its reenactments, but this original designation is a shorthand reference usually employed). More recently, there has been movement in the Senate to re-authorize the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act, according to PropertyCasualty360. The program expires in 2020. As recent events have reminded us, we remain in a world of risk. There will perhaps be instances in which the distinction between workplace violence and terrorism is critical. It is hoped that Congress will proceed with re-authorizing TRIA before it expires next year.
For today, however, my thoughts are with those wounded, and the families and friends of the wounded and dead. I am hopeful that they will find peace. I am grateful for those who engaged the shooter and put a stop to his idiocy. I am conscious that there are many whose day Friday was scary and stressful as they strove to reach loved ones. I can only imagine their stress and emotion. I am even more grateful for those members of our community who will undoubtedly strive in the coming days to bring solace to all of the victims, families, and friends. In the end, that is our greatest strength, community. Take a minute today to tell someone that you appreciate them.
RIP Cameron, Kaleb, Mohammed. Speedy recovery to Airman Blackwell, the deputies, and others recovering from wounds or injuries. You are in our thoughts.
