PICTURED: The four Marines ruthlessly shot dead on home soil by Kuwaiti-born gunman Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez in Chattanooga terror attack

  • Gunnery Sgt Thomas J Sullivan, 40; Lance Cpl Skip Wells, 21; Sgt Carson Holmquist; and Staff Sgt David Wyatt were identified as the four Marines shot dead by Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez in the Chattanooga terror attack 
  • Abdulazeez, 24, opened fire on two military buildings in Chattanooga on Thursday before being shot dead by police
  • Sullivan, from Springfield, Massachusetts, served two tours of duty in Iraq, survived the battle of Abu Ghraib and was awarded the Purple Heart 
  • Wells, from Marietta, Georgia, had just recently graduated boot camp 
  • The two other Marines killed in the shooting have not yet been named 
  • Abdulazeez, 24, injured at least three others in the shooting and was shot dead by police responding to the deadly incident
  • He was a naturalized U.S. citizen, originally from Kuwait, and a college graduate with a degree in electrical engineering 
  • The Muslim published two blog posts on Monday, saying life is 'a test' and is 'short and bitter' 
  • Two women were taken in handcuffs from his family home in the suburb of Hixson but police say they don't believe anyone else was involved

By Ashley Collman and Wills Robinson For Dailymail.com and Associated Press and Reuters

Published: 07:00 EST, 17 July 2015 | Updated: 11:32 EST, 17 July 2015

The four Marines killed in the Thursday shooting at a Naval Reserve center in Chattanooga, Tennessee have been identified as Gunnery Sgt Thomas J Sullivan, 40; Lance Cpl Skip Wells, 21; Sgt Carson Holmquist and Staff Sgt David Wyatt.

It's believed that the four men were training at the reserve center just after 11am when gunman Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez, 24, pulled up in a rented silver convertible and started shooting at the group through a fence.

The reserve center was just the second stop on Abdulazeez's deadly shooting spree. The Kuwaiti-born killer first drove to a strip mall where she shot dozens of rounds into the offices of a military recruitment center.

He then sped off, and drove about seven miles north to the Naval Reserve center, suggesting that he had planned to hit multiple targets for mass casualties.

The brutal attack was eventually brought to an end when police intervened and shot dead Abdulazeez. 

Scroll down for video 

Fallen: Sgt Carson Holmquist, left, and Staff Sgt David Wyatt, right, have been identified as two of the victims of Thursday's terror shooting at a Naval Reserve Center in Chattanooga, Tennessee 

Victim: Thomas J Sullivan, 40, and Skip Wells, 21 (pictured), have been identified as two of the four Marines killed in a shooting at a  Chattanooga, Tennessee Naval Reserve Center on Thursday
Hero: Sullivan (pictured), from Springfield, Massachusetts served two tours of duty in Iraq, survived the battle of Abu Ghraib and was awarded the Purple Heart, his family told reporters

Victims: Lance Cpl Skip Wells, 21, and Gunnery Sgt Thomas J Sullivan, 40 (right), were the other two Marines killed in the attack

Sullivan, from Springfield, Massachusetts served two tours of duty in Iraq, survived the battle of Abu Ghraib and was awarded the Purple Heart, his family told MassLive. 

Marietta, Georgia native Wells, 21, had just finished boot camp and a family friend told CBS Atlanta that he 'felt called to serve'.

The tragic pictures of Wells show the heartbreaking potential cut short by the rampage.

In moving pictures hugging a girlfriend and posing proudly fresh out of boot-camp with his family, the 21 year old was only just starting out on his dream career in the military when his life was brutally cut short.

Prior to joining the Marines, Wells studied history at Georgia Southern University, but did not graduate.  According to pictures posted to Facebook, he had recently returned from a trip to DisneyWorld with his mother.

Family friend Garrett Reed, who has known Wells since the fourth grade, told CNN that Wells' mother also served in the Marines and that Wells was in the ROTC in high school.

'He loves his country, his momma served in the military...I think he just wanted to follow in her footsteps,' Reed said. 

Reed said he was shocked when he learned that his childhood friend had been killed in the terror attack on Thursday

'You hear about this kind of stuff on the news all the time and you just never think it can happen to one of your friends,' Reed said.

In describing Wells' personality, Reed said: 'He was just a funny guy, real caring. Just a really nice guy, you just couldn't find a nicer guy than him.'

Lance Cpl Skip Wells is pictured above with a woman who appears to be his girlfriend, taken around the time of his boot camp graduation this year 

Lance Cpl Skip Wells is pictured above with a woman who appears to be his girlfriend, taken around the time of his boot camp graduation this year 

Fresh out of training: Wells, pictured center, had just graduated from boot camp. Pictured above with his grandfather, grandmother and mother in a photo posted to his Facebook in May

Fresh out of training: Wells, pictured center, had just graduated from boot camp. Pictured above with his grandfather, grandmother and mother in a photo posted to his Facebook in May

Calling: family friend told a local news station in Atlanta, Georgia that Wells felt 'called to serve'
Calling: family friend told a local news station in Atlanta, Georgia that Wells felt 'called to serve'

Calling: family friend told a local news station in Atlanta, Georgia that Wells felt 'called to serve'

Incredible loss: Wells pictured above with a woman who appears to be his girlfriend in a photo posted to Facebook 

Incredible loss: Wells pictured above with a woman who appears to be his girlfriend in a photo posted to Facebook 

Sullivan's brother Joe is a pub owner in their hometown, and wrote a post on the bar's website in honor of his fallen sibling after hearing the terrible news.

'He was our hero and he will never be forgotten. Please keep his family & friends in your thoughts and prayers. Thank you Tommy for protecting us,' the post reads. 

As the family mourns Sullivan's passing, his brother has asked residents in their community to lower their American flags to half mast.

'There’s no Marine you would want that was better in combat than him,' Sullivan's friend, Josh Parnell, told Patch. 'He’d been shot at so many times over the years and then for this to happen at home in the United States.'

A woman claiming to be a friend of Sullivan's on Twitter shared a picture of the sergeant in his uniform next to two Purple Hearts, writing: 'RIP GySgt Thomas Sullivan, it was an honor knowing you and knowing you're the reason why my mom would smile.' 

Decorated: Sullivan's brother has asked community members in their home town to lower American flags to half mast to mourn his passing

Decorated: Sullivan's brother has asked community members in their home town to lower American flags to half mast to mourn his passing

Fallen son: Sullivan is one of three children to Jerry and Betty Sullivan. He graduated from Cathedral High School in Springfield, Massachusetts before joining the military
Fallen son: Sullivan is one of three children to Jerry and Betty Sullivan. He graduated from Cathedral High School in Springfield, Massachusetts before joining the military

Fallen son: Sullivan is one of three children to Jerry and Betty Sullivan. He graduated from Cathedral High School in Springfield, Massachusetts before joining the military 

Why? The motives behind Abdulazeez's attack are not yet known, but a blog post written in the days before the shooting appear to show he had become radicalized. Sullivan pictured above 

Why? The motives behind Abdulazeez's attack are not yet known, but a blog post written in the days before the shooting appear to show he had become radicalized. Sullivan pictured above 

Twin shootings: Sullivan (pictured) and the three other victims of Thursday's shooting were killed at a U.S. Naval Reserve center in Chattanooga, the second of two military locations Abdulazeez targeted that morning 

Twin shootings: Sullivan (pictured) and the three other victims of Thursday's shooting were killed at a U.S. Naval Reserve center in Chattanooga, the second of two military locations Abdulazeez targeted that morning 

Sullivan was one of three children to Jerry and Betty Sullivan and graduated from Springfield's Cathedral High School before joining the military. 

Wyatt was identified as one of the four victims when family and friends started an outpouring of support for his widow, Lorri, on Facebook.

'My heart aches for you and your kids. There are no words. You are in my thought and prayers,' one friend wrote.

A neighbor who attended a Friday morning vigil told The Tennessean that the Wyatt home in Chattanooga was packed with visitors on Thursday.

'There were seven or eight cars there last night. I thought they were having a party. It didn't go through my mind,' Antony Madakcherry said.

Wyatt, originally from Arkansas, leaves behind two children with his wife.

The shooting that killed Sullivan started just before 11am on Thursday, when gunman Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez pulled up to a strip mall in Chattanooga and started shooting through the glass windows of a military recruitment office from the drivers seat of a rented silver convertible.  

Abdulazeez then sped off and drove about seven miles north to a U.S. Naval Reserve Center near a Coca-Cola bottling plant and the Tennessee RiverPark, where he opened fire again at a group of servicemen through a fence. 

All four of the victims killed in the shooting were shot dead at the Naval Reserve center. Just one person was shot at the military recruitment offices and was treated and released for their injuries.

The shooting was finally brought to an end when police officers intervened. Abdulazeez reportedly rammed the sports car into a gate and then was shot dead by a police officer.   

In the aftermath of the shooting, it was revealed that Abdulazeez was a naturalized U.S. citizen originally from Kuwait before moving to America with his family in 1996. 

Authorities are still scrambling to find a motive for the attack, but a blog posts written by Abdulazeez just three days before the attack suggests he may have become radicalized in his Islamic faith. 

Smirking: Muhammad Abdulazeez, 24 (pictured), has been identified as the gunman behind a shooting that killed four in Chattanooga on Thursday. He smiles in a mugshot following his arrest for driving under the influence in April

Smirking: Muhammad Abdulazeez, 24, smiles in a mugshot (left) following his arrest for driving under the influence in April. Right, he is pictured training as an amateur MMA fighter

A cryptic blog on Abdulazeez's Islamic beliefs also surfaced, where he talked about submitting to Allah just three days before staging the horrific attack.

He wrote: 'Brothers and sisters don't be fooled by your desires, this life is short and bitter and the opportunity to submit to allah may pass you by.'  

According to The Daily Beast, he added: 'Take his (Allah's) word as your light and code and do not let other prisoners, whether they are so called "Scholars" or even your family members, divert you from the truth. If you make the intention to follow allahs way 100 per cent and put your desires to the side, allah will guide you to what is right.' 

At a press conference on Thursday, authorities said they were investigating the shootings as an act of 'domestic terrorism' but the FBI said that Abdulazeez had not been on their radar. 

A federal law enforcement official says authorities are continuing to search the computer belong to the gunman, but as of Friday morning, haven't found an extensive online presence.

The official says they also haven't uncovered evidence suggesting Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez was directly inspired by the Islamic State militant group. But the official says the review is continuing. 

FBI investigators are also looking into a trip Abdulazeez took to Jordan, where he lived before emigrating to the U.S., last year.

Reuters and the Wall Street Journal are reporting that authorities are looking into whether he may have had contact with exremists during the seven-month stay in 2014.

There are also questions about whether Abdulazeez may have visited Yemen on this trip, a country known as a hot-bed for extremist groups like AQAP - the Arabian Penninsula affiliate of al Qaeda.

Law enforcement raided Abdulazeez's family home in the upscale neighborhood of Hixson hours after the double shootings, just a mile away from the shot-up recruitment offices, and took two women away in handcuffs. 

Neighbors in the community were shocked to hear about the young man's arrest, saying the family was normal and friendly.

'We’ve never had any problems like this,' one of Abdulazeez’s neighbors told Nashville’s WKRN-TV. 'I’d never suspect anything.'

Authorities remained at the property into the night as the FBI started a terrorist investigation in a bid to decipher the motives behind the attack, and discover whether he was inspired by ISIS. 

As a result of the shooting, security was beefed up across the country at military recruitment centers and bases. 

The NYPD has also increased their presence at 'sensitive areas' - including recruitment centers and landmarks. 

The attack came on the last day of the holy Muslim festival of Ramadan, a period during which ISIS agitators asked for more lone wolf attacks.

Raid: Law enforcement officers detain a woman as they surround a house in Hixson, Tennessee, where gunman Youssef Abdulazeez lived for almost 17 years 

Raid: Law enforcement officers detain a woman as they surround a house in Hixson, Tennessee, where gunman Youssef Abdulazeez lived for almost 17 years 

Detained: FBI and a number of law enforcement officials stormed the house in the aftermath of the shooting 

Detained: FBI and a number of law enforcement officials stormed the house in the aftermath of the shooting 

Investigation: Law enforcement personnel gather outside the home of gunman Mohammod Abdulazeez. FBI officials said no one else has been taken into custody and no one else is believed to be involved 

Investigation: Law enforcement personnel gather outside the home of gunman Mohammod Abdulazeez. FBI officials said no one else has been taken into custody and no one else is believed to be involved 

Family: Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez (back row in the orange shirt) poses for a picture with his family by the river banks of Chattanooga

Family: Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez (back row in the orange shirt) poses for a picture with his family by the river banks of Chattanooga

Attack: The shooting started just before 11am on Thursday when witnesses saw a gunman pull into a local strip mall and start firing several rounds into the offices of a military recruitment center 

Attack: The shooting started just before 11am on Thursday when witnesses saw a gunman pull into a local strip mall and start firing several rounds into the offices of a military recruitment center 

Grief: A pastor prays over a sobbing citizen outside the recruitment center that was targeted during the attack 

Grief: A pastor prays over a sobbing citizen outside the recruitment center that was targeted during the attack 

He was a practicing Muslim, and would take breaks from training as a Mixed Martial Arts fighter to pray in his coach's office.

Fellow worshipers had seem him in a local mosque up to a month before the attack, but it is not known if or how he may have been radicalized. 

Those who prayed alongside him said he was acting normally and there was nothing to suggest he was preparing to do something so violent. 

On Thursday evening, the FBI said no one else was believed to be involved and they hadn't taken anyone into custody. They added that they were yet to find any links to international terrorist cells, but were looking into every aspect of his life. 

The four casualties were believed to have been part of a reserve artillery unit and had been deployed to Iraq three times.

At least three others - including Chattanooga Police Officer Dennis Pedigo, a Marine recruiter and a Navy sailor - were also injured in the two brazen assaults. Pedigo is said to be in a stable condition. 

Witnesses described how the gunman shot from the driver's seat at the first target, leaning the gun on the side of his hire car.   

Happy student: Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez attended the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga and graduated in 2012 with a degree in electrical engineering

Yearbook photo: Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez wrote between two pictures of himself: 'My name causes national security alerts. What does yours do?' Some of his former classmates believe this was a joke

Yearbook photo: Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez wrote between two pictures of himself: 'My name causes national security alerts. What does yours do?' Some of his former classmates believe this was a joke

Hobbies: A video purportedly shows Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez in a MMA fight in Chattanooga. (He is the fighter in the dark hair and camouflage shorts)

Opened fire: A member of the FBI looks at the glass doors riddled with bullet holes outside the recruitment center that was targeted in Chattanooga. It was the first of two military sites hit 

Opened fire: A member of the FBI looks at the glass doors riddled with bullet holes outside the recruitment center that was targeted in Chattanooga. It was the first of two military sites hit 

A spokesman for the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga, confirmed that he attended the school and graduated in 2012 with a degree in electrical engineering.

Pictures on social media have emerged of him at his graduation ceremony and celebrating with members of his family in the same year.

Howeve,r he was recently seen smirking in his mugshot when he was arrested for driving under the influence in April. He was scheduled to attend a court hearing two weeks from the shooting. 

Reports suggest he was stopped on the side of he road with 'white residue' on his face, while his car smelled of marijuana. He claimed he had snorted caffeine and refused a blood test. 

In his yearbook entry for Red Bank High School, where he was a starter for the varsity wrestling team, he wrote between two pictures of himself: 'My name causes national security alerts. What does yours do?' 

According to online profiles and a YouTube video, he became an amateur Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter when he left school.

Almir Dizdarevic, a former coach, told CNN he had traveled overseas to the Middle East in the last two years and had reportedly 'moved home'. However, it is unknown where in the area he visited and why he was there.

Abdulazeez's father, Youssuf Abdullazeez, was appointed as a 'special policeman' for Chattanooga's Department of Public Works in March 2005, the Chattanooga Times Free Press reported.  

He was investigated several years ago for allegedly giving money to a group associated with terrorism, the New York Times reported.

Citing unnamed law enforcement officials, the paper said the gunman's father was at one point on a terrorist watch list and was questioned while on a trip overseas.

The paper quoted an official as cautioning that the investigation was several years old and had not generated any information on the son. The father was eventually removed from the watch list, the paper quoted the official as saying.

Neighbors in the upscale community say his family were well-respected and the daughters would often babysit for their children.  

A woman who was at school with Abdulazeez said he was a quiet kid, but well-liked. 

Officials later confirmed four Marines were killed on Thursday when the gunman opened fire. At least three others are said to have been injured 

Officials later confirmed four Marines were killed on Thursday when the gunman opened fire. At least three others are said to have been injured 

Officials named the suspect, as 24-year-old Muhammah Abdulazeez, a naturalized U.S. citizen from Kuwait. It prompted officials to conduct a probe into all aspects of his life. The scene at the recruitment center is pictured

Officials named the suspect, as 24-year-old Muhammah Abdulazeez, a naturalized U.S. citizen from Kuwait. It prompted officials to conduct a probe into all aspects of his life. The scene at the recruitment center is pictured

In a short statement on Thursday, President Obama said: 'It is a heartbreaking circumstance for these individuals that served our country with great valor to be killed in this fashion.' FBI Director James Comey (in the foreground) was in the room when the president made the statement

In a short statement on Thursday, President Obama said: 'It is a heartbreaking circumstance for these individuals that served our country with great valor to be killed in this fashion.' FBI Director James Comey (in the foreground) was in the room when the president made the statement

Karen Wagner told the Times Free Press: 'He was friendly, funny, kind,' said Kagan Wagner. 'I never would have thought it would would be him.' 

'They were your average Chattanooga family,' she added.

Kevin Emily, his high school wrestling coach, told CNN he was just a 'normal', 'humble' student who would sometimes miss practice because he had to pray.

He described how his mother and father would come and watch his fights on a regular basis . 

'There were no red flags about anything. We had a tight bond together.' 

It is not known how and where he practiced Islam in the months before the attack but, according to the Daily Beast, he ran a rambling blog with only two posts, both posted on July 13.

The first post was entitled 'A Prison Called Dunya,' Abdulazeez refers to prisoner who is told he would be given a test that would either take him out of his earthly prison - or send him into a more restrictive environment.

According to the website, he wrote: 'I would imagine that any sane person would devote their time to mastering the information on the study guide and stay patient with their studies, only giving time for the other things around to keep themselves focused on passing the exam.  

He added: 'This life is that test, designed to separate the inhabitants of Paradise from the inhabitants of Hellfire.' 

Grief: Suzanne Burnett holds a candle as she sings during a prayer service at Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church for the victims of the shootings 

Grief: Suzanne Burnett holds a candle as she sings during a prayer service at Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church for the victims of the shootings 

Emotional: Chuck Hartung holds his daughter Haley, eight, during a prayer service in tribute to those who were killed or injured in the two brazen attacks 

Emotional: Chuck Hartung holds his daughter Haley, eight, during a prayer service in tribute to those who were killed or injured in the two brazen attacks 

Prayers: The Rev. Drew McCallie prays during a prayer service at Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church. Members of the congregation hold their heads in worship at the end of the devastating day 

Prayers: The Rev. Drew McCallie prays during a prayer service at Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church. Members of the congregation hold their heads in worship at the end of the devastating day 

Distraught: Local resident Chad Harris puts his face against a pew as he prays during the vigil 

Distraught: Local resident Chad Harris puts his face against a pew as he prays during the vigil 

Mourning: Melody Kelley hugs Logan Wallace during the service as residents of the city reflect on the shooting 

Mourning: Melody Kelley hugs Logan Wallace during the service as residents of the city reflect on the shooting 

Response: Stephanie Rhoades holds her son Peyton as members of the congregation reacted emotionally to the violence 

Response: Stephanie Rhoades holds her son Peyton as members of the congregation reacted emotionally to the violence 

The second post is called 'Understanding Islam: The Story of the Three Blind Men.' It suggests Abdulazeez felt his fellow Muslims had a 'certain understanding of Islam and keep a tunnel vision of what we think Islam is.'

The shooting started just before 11am on Thursday, when witnesses saw a Abdulazeez drive into a strip mall and use a high-powered shotgun to fire more than a dozen rounds at a military recruitment office from his silver convertible Ford Mustang.

The shooter then fled the scene and drove to a U.S. Naval Reserve center where he opened fire again.

He was then gunned down in a hail of bullets after a short chase away from the scene. Reports suggest he held police at bay as he used 30-clip rounds from his automatic weapon.

Witnesses described seeing a police car riddled with bullets being towed away from the scene of the standoff. 

President Obama was briefed on the incident and immediately opened an investigation to be led by the FBI. The head of the government agency, James Comey, was said to have been inside the Oval Office when the president was informed of what happened.

Obama also urged the Department of Defense officials at bases around the country to remain 'vigilant' in the wake of the attack. This led to the beefing up of security in cities across the country.

In a short statement, he said: 'It is a heartbreaking circumstance for these individuals that served our country with great valor to be killed in this fashion.'

He added that the thoughts of the American people are with the families of those who had been killed or injured. 

Tribute: Military veteran David Croft adjusts a US flag at a makeshift memorial near a US Military Recruiting storefront

Tribute: Military veteran David Croft adjusts a US flag at a makeshift memorial near a US Military Recruiting storefront

Ray Mabus, the Secretary of the Navy said he would be opening an investigation into what happened, but insisted the families of the victims were the priority.

In a statement he said: 'Though we can never fully prevent attacks like this, we will continue to investigate, review and guard against future vulnerabilities and do everything in our power to safeguard the security of our service members and their families.

'While we expect our sailors and Marines to go into harm's way, and they do so without hesitation, an attack at home, in our community, is insidious and unfathomable. As the investigation unfolds, our priority will be to take care of the families of those affected.

Mabus also expressed his gratitude to the first responders who first went to the scene. He said their 'prompt reaction was critical to stopping this individual from inflicting further violence.'

On Thursday Secretary of Defense Ash Carter said: 'It is with a heavy heart that I learned of today's tragic events in Chattanooga. 

'My thoughts and prayers - along with those of the men and women of the Department of Defense - are with the families of those killed in this senseless act of violence and with all those touched by this tragedy, including our Navy and Marine Corps family. 

'I am grateful to local law enforcement for their swift response. The department will continue to work with local law enforcement as they investigate this heinous crime and will support our military families in their time of grief.'

Republican presidential hopeful Bobby Jindal released a strong statement, insisting the latest attack his proof that America is at war with everyday radical Islam. 

He said: 'This apparent act of terrorism has taken the lives of four American heroes, and our hearts and prayers are with their families. While it's too early to know for sure what happened, it certainly looks like an act of terrorism.  

Two attacks: The gunman initially opened fire on a recruitment center where he left one injured and then fled four miles north to a U.S. Naval Reserve center, where he killed four Marines

Two attacks: The gunman initially opened fire on a recruitment center where he left one injured and then fled four miles north to a U.S. Naval Reserve center, where he killed four Marines

Injured: Chattanooga Police Officer Dennis Pedigo has been identified as one of the people hit in the shooting. He is reportedly in stable condition at hospital

'We must pursue justice on their behalf and stop at nothing to hunt down and kill these evildoers abroad before more of them come here to kill our people.

'This shooting underscores the grave reality of the threat posed to us by Radical Islamic terrorism every single day. It's time for the White House to wake up and tell the truth…and the truth is that Radical Islam is at war with us, and we must start by being honest about that.

'There have been many bad things that have happened under President Obama. One that stands out to me was the horrible shooting at Ft. Hood…which was clearly an act of terrorism by a Radical Islamist. Yet the White House labeled that horrible act as 'workplace violence.'

'This is grotesque. You cannot defeat evil until you admit that it exists.'

The Islamic community also came out to condemn the attack as 'cowardly'.  

On Thursday, Bassam Issa, the President of the Islamic Society in Chattanooga, said: 'We are tremendously saddened by today's shooting in hour home town of Chattanooga, Tennessee. Our hearts are with the families of the brave Marines who died today and with the police officer and two bystanders who were shot and injured in this cowardly act.

'We condemn this act in the strongest possible terms as one of corwadice and hate. At the Islamic Center of Greater Chattannoga, we don't see our community center as a 'Muslim' community; we are Chattanoogans first, and we see ourselves as part of the larger community of Tennesseans grieving today's act.

'The leadership of the Islamic Society of Greater Chattanooga is currently meeting with law enforcement agencies and other members of the Chattanooga community in regards to this tragedy and will issue additional comments to the media this evening.' 

Cordoned off: Personnel stand outside the recruitment center attacked by muslim gunman Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez

Cordoned off: Personnel stand outside the recruitment center attacked by muslim gunman Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez

Investigation: Chattanooga police talk to Reserve Recruitment Center personnel at the Lee Hwy office. Two military facilities in Tennessee were attacked in shootings Thursday

Investigation: Chattanooga police talk to Reserve Recruitment Center personnel at the Lee Hwy office. Two military facilities in Tennessee were attacked in shootings Thursday

Armed response: Police officers with rifles kneel on the ground near the scene of the shooting on Amnicola Highway in Chattanooga, Tennessee - near the Naval Reserve Center

Armed response: Police officers with rifles kneel on the ground near the scene of the shooting on Amnicola Highway in Chattanooga, Tennessee - near the Naval Reserve Center

Hail of bullets: Police opened fire and killed Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez after his double attack that left four marines dead

Hail of bullets: Police opened fire and killed Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez after his double attack that left four marines dead

Three days before Abdulazeez opened fire, local Muslims held a protest defending their religion in the Tennessee city. 

They targeted Chattanooga because the FBI caught a man, called Robert Doggart, from there who was planning an attack on a Mosque in upstate New York.

He was indicted by a Tennessee grand jury on Tuesday for his involvement in the plot.  

The shooting comes at a time of heightened security following terror warnings issued ahead of the Fourth of July weekend. 

New York Police Department Deputy Commissioner Intelligence and Counterterrorism John Miller released a statement saying there would be an increased police presence in 'sensitive areas', including recruiting stations and landmarks.

'The NYPD has deployed an increased number of Critical Response Vehicles (CRV) to provide additional coverage at military recruiting stations and other sensitive locations in the City of New York. 

'While we have no specific information about any plot against the city, until we learn more about the attack we have placed additional officers in key locations.'

'We have been in regular contact with Tennessee authorities, the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force and the intelligence community. 

News of the shooting broke around 11:30am when Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke tweeted: 'Horrific incident in our community. We will release details as they are confirmed. Prayers to all those affected'.

At an afternoon press conference, officials remained tight-lipped about details of the shooting, but said that it was being investigated as an 'act of domestic terrorism'. 

They wouldn't divulge what kind of weapons the shooter was using, but did confirm that he had multiple weapons on his person. 

The investigation is being coordinated by the FBI, since crimes on military centers are under federal jurisdiction. 

Eyewitness, Gina Mule, who works near to the recruitment center said she saw the gunman fire at the offices.

Speaking to CNN, Mule said she was eating in a restaurant when a man 'with a high-powered rifle' began firing around 10:50am. 

Double shooting: Police and emergency vehicles block Amnicola Highway after the morning shooting near the Naval Reserve Center, in Chattanooga, Tenn. on Thursday, July 16, 2015

Double shooting: Police and emergency vehicles block Amnicola Highway after the morning shooting near the Naval Reserve Center, in Chattanooga, Tenn. on Thursday, July 16, 2015

April Grimmett shared a picture of the bullet-ridden frontage of the recruitment center after hearing rapid gunfire coming from the vicinity.

'Shortly after that we heard the shot. It was very loud and very fast,' she said.

Grimmett added that the shooter appeared to be talking on the phone during the attack.

'I could not believe how many bullet holes were in that door. It was insane.'

One other witness, Erica Wright, told CNN that she was working in a hair salon near the center and saw and heard the gunman.

'We heard one pop, one really loud pop. We went to the door and there was several other pops after that and we looked two doors down and we saw a guy in a silver mustang unloading on the recruiter's office,' she said.

Wright added that he reloaded once or twice.

An unidentified man who was in the parking lot of the strip mall told WTVC about the terrifying situation that unfolded in front of him.

'He just pulled up. I didn't think anything of it. … He lifted up his arms with a big black gun. It was one shot then it was endless shots, one after another, just unloading.'

Marilyn Hutcheson was with her friend taking a break when she told CNN that she heard '7 to 15 shots'.

'There was a barrage of fire once the police officers and everyone got here,' she said. 'They came across and put all of the buildings on lockdown. There was a lot of gunfire going on for quite a while.'

The shooting at the Amnicola Highway reserve center led Chattanooga State Community College, Lee University and a nearby mall to go into lock down. 

On alert: An officer stands in front of a shuttered Navy recruiting center in downtown Manhattan 

On alert: An officer stands in front of a shuttered Navy recruiting center in downtown Manhattan 

Protest: Three days before Abdulazeez opened fire, local Muslims held a protest defending their religion in the Tennessee city

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