The sailor who died as a result of the shooting rampage Thursday in Chattanooga was a married father of three girls and a former high school baseball standout who joined the Navy in 2010. The sailor’s death brought the toll from the shooting to five – the suspected gunman was also shot dead.
Advertisement
Photo of Randall Smith and two of his three daughters.
Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Randall Smith has passed, serving on active duty at a Tennessee Reserve Center, announced July 18 by the Navy. He was shot three times while trying to warn others about the attack. “I immediately turned it on CNN and, wow, it was very bad”. “For your freedom, for your safety”. She noted that he was able to communicate with his wife following surgery. Abdulazeez, a naturalized American citizen born in Kuwait, was killed in a shootout with police. Reinhold and his investigative team seek to discover if this was a lone-wolf terrorist attack or if Abdulazeez was aided by anyone.
Smith’s step-grandmother, Darlene Proxmire, confirmed his death to NewsChannel 15 in Ohio.
She earlier said he had been wounded in the liver, colon and stomach.
“I cannot believe our soldiers do not have guns there”, she said. “A lot of people are learning our bases aren’t guarded”.
A GoFundMe account has been set up for Smith and his wife and children at gofundme.com/chattanoogatn, which will be used to support medical, transportation, housing and needs of the family, it said.
Advertisement
“He really loved the Navy”, said Proxmire Saturday.
