Timothy White: U.S. Navy Chattanooga Shooting Survivor Investigated Over Gun Free Zones
Timothy White, a survivor of the U.S. Navy Chattanooga shooting, is allegedly being investigated for discharging an unauthorized weapon on federal property in self-defense. Former U.S. Army Lt. Colonel Allen West and former Secretary of the Navy Jim Webb have both claimed the U.S. Navy is considering charging White for his actions, but now a senior defense official is claiming White is merely being investigated.
In a related report by the Inquisitr, U.S. Navy officer Timothy White has fully admitted to using a personal gun to defend himself and other soldiers against Mohammad Abdulazeez during the Chattanooga shooting. Currently, federal regulations do not permit anyone outside of police enforcement and military police to hold firearms at certain federal locations.
An unidentified senior defense official spoke to Fox News, and they claimed the punishing of U.S. Navy officer Timothy White for the Chattanooga shooting incident could not be “completely ruled out.” However, the defense official clarified this position, saying that the Chattanooga shooting needed to be investigated properly yet it is “extremely unlikely” that White would be charged.
“Even if remote, is there a chance [White] contributed to the chaos and got people killed? Hurt police efforts?,” the official said. “We are exploring that.”
The Washington Post also cites Pentagon officials who say “criminal charges are unlikely in White’s case,” but it’s possible the Chattanooga shooting survivor could be punished in other ways.
“It’s worth noting that the Navy has a variety of options on the table. For one, it could feasibly recognize White for valor, while still taking some administrative action against him less serious than criminal charges. Those options could include professional counseling or a non-punitive letter of caution. A letter along those lines would not be considered punishment, but rather a formal way of noting a deficiency or professional mistake.”
What ignited the controversy was the allegation by Allen West that the U.S. Navy was indeed considering charging the officer over the gun control laws related to gun free zones.
“Ladies and gents, resulting from the text message I received yesterday, I can confirm that the United States Navy is bringing charges against Lt. Cmdr Timothy White for illegally discharging a firearm on federal property.”
Jim Webb is a former Secretary of the U.S. Navy from the Ronald Reagan administration, and on Sunday he confirmed West’s report by speaking to an unidentified defense official.
“Navy charging LCDR Tim White with a crime for trying to defend our sailors and Marines in Chattanooga? He deserves a medal, not an indictment,” Webb wrote on Twitter. “Before tweeting last night, we confirmed with a defense official that the Navy was seriously considering charging LCDR Timothy White. The charge being considered is illegally discharging a firearm on federal property. No on the record comment was offered.”
As of yesterday, the admin for the official United States Navy Facebook page has continued to claim the allegations are false when responding to anyone who brings up the reports about Timothy White.
“Stories of Navy personnel being charged with an offense are not true. There is still a long way to go in reviewing the facts of this tragic incident, but at this time we can confirm no service member has been charged with an offense.”
What do you think?
[Image via Times Free Press]
