PHOTOS:Breaking News:Navy Yard Shooting, Multiple Deaths, Injuries Reported (USA Today)



Injured In a Shooting At Washington Navy Yard

 Multiple deaths were reported and more people were wounded by at least one gunman at the Naval Sea Systems Command headquarters, authorities said.

The Navy said "several" people were killed. Local media said at least three were dead and several more people were wounded.

Washington's Metropolitan Police Department reported that a suspect was on the loose in the building. The shooter was described as a black male with a dark complexion, approximately 5'10" to 6 feet tall, 170 pound with a black shirt and black hat. He is believed to be barricaded somewhere and have multiple guns.

The Navy released a statement saying only that one injury was confirmed, but later said on its Twitter feed that "several' people were injured. The Navy said earlier tweeted that there was an "active shooter" at building 197 at the Navy Yard, and that three shots had been fired at 8:20 a.m. ET.

District of Columbia Fire EMS units were on the scene. Officials said a medic unit, ambulance, and an engine company are responding as well as some EMS supervisors.

Flights at Washington's Reagan National Airport were being disrupted, with all departures halted at the airport as of 10 a.m.

The White House released a statement: "The President has been briefed several times about the unfolding situation at the Washington Navy Yard by Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Lisa Monaco and Deputy Chief of Staff Alyssa Mastromanaco. The President directed his team to stay in touch with our federal partners, including the Navy and FBI, as well as the local officials. We urge citizens to listen to the authorities and follow directions from the first responders on site."

The Navy Yard is located on the banks of the Anacostia River, a few blocks from the Nationals baseball stadium. It's in an urban area where the development of new parks, shops and apartments has been ongoing.

The headquarters is the workplace for about 3,000 people.

The sea systems command is responsible for engineering, building, buying and maintaining ships, submarines and combat systems for the fleet. The sea systems command is the largest of the Navy's five system commands, with an annual budget of nearly $30 billion. See more photos