A U.S. Naval Academy graduate is being lauded as a hero after he reportedly relayed crucial information to first responders following the Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola shooting on December 6, 2019. Joshua Kaleb Watson, 23, one of the three victims killed in the attack, provided vital details about the shooter’s identity and location despite being shot multiple times himself.
According to a Facebook post by Adam Watson, Joshua’s brother, the young graduate, whose dream was to become a Navy pilot, made it outside after being shot and informed the first response team about the shooter’s whereabouts and other critical details. This information proved invaluable in the immediate aftermath of the shooting.
“Today has been the worst day of my life. My youngest brother gave his life for his country in a senseless shooting,” Adam Watson wrote. “After being shot multiple times he made it outside and told the first response team where the shooter was and those details were invaluable. He died a hero and we are beyond proud but there is a [hole] in our hearts that can never be filled.”
In an interview with USA Today, Joshua’s father, Benjamin Watson, revealed that his son was the officer on deck at the time of the shooting. He sustained at least five gunshot wounds but managed to escape and provide an accurate description of the shooter to first responders before succumbing to his injuries. “Heavily wounded, he made his way out to flag down first responders and gave an accurate description of the shooter,” he said. “He died serving his country.”
Defense Secretary Mark Esper confirmed in an interview with Fox News that all three victims were Americans, with two being members of the U.S. Navy.
Joshua Kaleb Watson, a rifle team captain, had been at NAS Pensacola for flight training for two weeks prior to the incident. His family confirmed his lifelong ambition was to become a Navy pilot.
Mohammed Saeed Alshamrani, a Saudi national, opened fire on a flight training program for foreign military personnel, killing Watson and two others. Alshamrani was killed by responding deputies. Before the attack, the suspect reportedly posted a short manifesto to Twitter condemning the U.S. and Israel.
“I’m not against you for just being American, I don’t hate you because your freedoms, I hate you because every day you supporting, funding and committing crimes not only against Muslims but also humanity,” he wrote, according to an AFP report. AFP Report.
Twitter suspended Alshamrani’s account but declined to comment further. The other two victims have yet to be identified.