Four marines and suspected gunman killed in US shootings

Four US marines were killed on Thursday by a suspected gunman who opened fire at two military offices in Chattanooga, Tennessee, before being fatally shot in an attack officials called a brazen, brutal act of domestic terrorism. The FBI named the suspect as Muhammod Youssuf Abdulazeez and said he was 24 years old. NBC reported he was a naturalized American born in Kuwait.

US officials said law enforcement authorities are investigating whether he was inspired by Islamic State or a similar militant group. No official motive has yet been given.

"We are treating this as an act of domestic terrorism," said Bill Killian, the US attorney for the eastern district of Tennessee, adding that no official determination of the nature of the crime had yet been made and the Federal Bureau of Investigation has not ruled anything out.

The Department of Homeland Security was stepping up security at certain federal facilities "out of an abundance of caution" and supporting the FBI investigation, DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson said in a statement.

Chattanooga is a city of about 173,000 people along the Tennessee River in the southeast of the state.

The suspect, seen driving an open-top Ford Mustang, is believed to have first gone to a joint military recruiting center in a strip mall and sprayed it with gunfire, riddling the glass facade with bullet holes.

"Everybody was at a standstill and as soon as he pulled away everyone scrambled trying to make sure everyone was OK," said Erica Wright, who works two doors down from the center.

Armed forces recruiting centers are often located in shopping centers and other prominent places.

The gunman then drove off to a Naval Reserve Center about 6 miles (10km) away, fatally shooting the four marines before being shot and killed in a firefight with police.

Three others were wounded in the attacks, including a police officer reported in stable condition and a Marine.

The shootings began at about 10:45 a.m. local time and ended about 30 minutes later.

Chattanooga Police Chief Fred Fletcher told a news conference many officers converged to engage "this brazen criminal and one of those officers was injured by gunfire" from the suspect. The suspected shooter is believed to have lived in the area and acted alone, police said.

A White House spokesman said President Barack Obama had been told about the shooting.

"The president has been briefed by his national security staff on the Chattanooga shooting," said spokesman Eric Schultz.

Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke lashed out at the gunman in an interview with cable news channel CNN.

"This was an individual who was motivated to do significant damage," he said. Local media said memorial services for the victims would be held in various Chattanooga churches tonight.