>>12057354 Screenshot of security camera footage at the Greensboro, North Carolina joint recruiting station. On Monday evening, a Greensboro man was charged with firing a gun into the building. (Courtesy)
>>12057354 Article
https://www.militarytimes.com/news/recruiting/2020/12/16/rejected-army-applicant-accused-of-shooting-into-joint-recruiting-center-with-marines-sailors-inside/?utm_campaign=Socialflow+MAR&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social
Military Recruiting
Rejected Army applicant accused of shooting into joint recruiting center with Marines, sailors inside
Davis Winkie
A North Carolina man was arrested Monday evening and charged with firing a gun into the Greensboro, North Carolina Armed Forces Career Center, according to local police. An Army official said the incident happened after James Alexander Cooper learned earlier in the day of his disqualification from joining the Army. At least five people were in the center when gunshots rang out, sources familiar with the incident told Military Times.
One source familiar with the incident, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to reporters, said two Marines, a Marine poolee, and two Navy recruiters were in the office at the time of the shooting. A defense official confirmed to Military Times that Marines were present in the building at the time of the shooting, and Terri Russell, a spokesperson for Navy Recruiting Command, confirmed that two Navy recruiters were also present at the time of the shooting.
“No Army personnel were present at the time of the incident,” said Kelli Ward, U.S. Army Recruiting Command’s director of public affairs. Air Force Recruiting Service spokeswoman Leslie Brown said no Air Force recruiters were present due to COVID-19 teleworking restrictions.
“No Marines were hurt in the incident,” said Capt. Ryan Lowcher, a 4th Marine Corps District spokesperson. The source familiar with the incident said no Navy personnel were hurt, either.
Cooper, 36, stood outside the door and started shooting at around 6:20 p.m., according to Ron Glenn, public information officer for the Greensboro Police Department. Glenn said the center “was occupied at the time of the shooting,” and that Conner was arrested close to the scene.
The troops were able to successfully barricade behind bulletproof benches and cubicles, said Russell, the Navy Recruiting Command spokesperson.
Images of the scene first emerged on the Recruiter Times Facebook page. A bulletproof office cubicle panel appeared to stop at least one round that made it through two sets of doors. The source familiar with the incident said at least one Marine was sitting in the cubicle when the shooting began.
Posted by Recruiter Times on Tuesday, December 15, 2020