Washington, D.C. - On "M" Street today, as thousands of Navy Yard workers filed out confused and shaken, some turned to family for comfort. Others turned to religion. All wondered how, in a secure federal facility, something like this could happen.
All day, motorcades of buses rumbled to the yard to pick up workers who for hours were told to stay put, to hide.
Blocks away they were let out at the Washington Nationals field where families waited. Others walked blocks to leave, sailors and civilians were marching down the sidewalk. Among them, Navy Cmdr. Dave Bauer who saw the SWAT teams swarm the building next to his, searching for a shooter who killed 12.
“This type of attack is always a challenge because it is most likely an insider. It's not a terrorist attack that we typically train for,” says Cmdr. Bauer.
Bauer said security at the Navy Yard is designed to keep out criminals and enemies. It's not designed to scrutinize those who belong inside.
“I think it is going to change things a lot because obviously security will be ramped up a bit. Our security force will look at everyone a little bit different than they did before,” says Cmdr. Bauer.
But that's for tomorrow. Tonight, most people just wanted to head someplace safe.
“I'm just still shaken up. I'm nervous. I just want to go home,” says Yvonne Thomas, who works at the Navy Yard.
