Residents in Chattanooga, Tenn. are still processing the events of the reserve center and recruiting center shooting in an area strip that took place Thursday morning. In the aftermath, the slain gunman’s identity has been revealed as Mohammad Youssuf Abdulazeez, and here’s what we know about him so far.
As we shared yesterday, details of what occurred and the actual number of victims remained unconfirmed for much of the day. As time went on, we’ve learned that four marines were killed and three others injured by the 24-year-old Abdulazeez. What remains now is an ongoing investigation of who Abdulazeez was and his affiliations with terrorist organizations, if any.
There was online chatter of the Chattanooga attack being part of a series of  coordinated attacks, but that was unconfirmed. As Tennessee and the rest of the nation mourn the tragedy, Hip-Hop Wired takes a look at what’s known so far about Mohammad Youssuf Abdulazeez on the following pages.
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Photo: Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office
Abdulazeez Arrived In The States After The Persian Gulf War
His parents left Kuwait shortly after the Persian Gulf War and settled in Chattanooga according to the New York Times.
Abdulazeez Was A Well-Liked High School Student
According to some reports, many who attended Red Band High School with Abdulazeez expressed shock that he was involved in the Chattanooga shooting. Many say that Abdulazeez was a popular, well-liked student who notched good grades. His wrestling coach also vouched for him, saying that Abdulazeez was a “good kid” to CNN
The Family Has Been The Target Of Terrorist Concerns
https://twitter.com/madisoncoker27/status/622077870580592640
In 2010, local outlet the Chattanooga Free Press interviewed Abdulazeez’s mother and sisters because of their headscarves and attitudes towards Islam. The family said it engaged curious people willingly and promoted the well-known idea that Islam is a peaceful religion. However, the father was targeted by authorities for donating money to a possible terror group and placed on a watch list only to be later removed.
Abdulazeez Was Not Under Suspicion Of Terror
Despite the concerns, Abdulazeez was not under suspicion of being linked to a terrorist group. In fact, Abdulazeez’s lone arrest took place earlier this year when he was stopped for driving under the influence. He was due to appear in court this month.
Abdulazeez Began Embracing His Muslim Faith More Openly
In recent times, Abdulazeez grew out his beard as his custom for some Muslims. He also began attending a local mosque with his family. It was reported by the New York Times that Abdulazeez’s appearance at the mosque wasn’t alarming to outsiders, and members of the group condemned the concept of jihad and the like.
Cryptic Blog Posts Revealed A Glimpse
In a pair of blog entries, Abdulazeez hinted at jihad but did not make a ploy for violence. Instead, the entries seemed to highlight his devotion to Islam more than anything.
