AMU Homeland Security Intelligence North America

One Dead After Two Men Try to Ram NSA Gate at Fort Meade

By Glynn Cosker
Editor, In Homeland Security

One man is dead and another suffered seriously injuries following an exchange of gunfire at the entrance to the NSA headquarters located within Fort Meade, Maryland. The two men, reportedly dressed as women and possibly transgender, rammed a security gate with their Ford Escape SUV. A gunfight erupted between an on-base security guard and the occupants of the vehicle.

“Shortly before 9:00 a.m. today, a vehicle containing two individuals attempted an unauthorized entry at a National Security Agency gate,” said Jonathan Freed, NSA director of strategic communications. “The driver failed to obey an NSA police officer’s routine instructions for safely exiting the secure campus. The vehicle failed to stop and barriers were deployed.”

Television footage showed one man being loaded into an ambulance while a white sheet covered what appeared to be a deceased second man lying on the pavement. Footage also showed an NSA police SUV with its front crumpled in. It’s not clear if that vehicle hit the other vehicle or something else.

The motive of the two men in the Ford Escape is unclear, but the FBI was quick to report that the incident was not connected to any terrorist group.

“The shooting scene is contained and we do not believe it is related to terrorism,” said the FBI in a statement. “We are investigating with NSA police and other law enforcement agencies.” The FBI is working with local Maryland authorities and the U.S. attorney’s office to discuss which federal charges the surviving man will face.

NBC News reported that the two men were driving a stolen car and were in possession of multiple guns and illegal drugs. “The incident has been contained and is under investigation,” Fort Meade garrison commander Colonel Brian Foley told NBC News.

Fort Meade Army base is located approximately 25 miles northeast of Washington, DC, and houses the headquarters for the NSA and other Department of Defense agencies related to the intelligence community and cyber security. Approximately 11,000 military personnel and close to 30,000 civilians work at Fort Meade.

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