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Sailor who killed 2 at Pearl Harbor was reportedly unhappy with commanders

The Navy sailor who fatally shot two people at Pearl Harbor was also facing non-judicial punishment, according to a U.S. military official.

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii — The shooting at Pearl Harbor on Wednesday unfolded in 23 seconds while thousands of employees were in the area, and some had witnessed the attack, military officials said at news conference on Friday.

They said there was no evidence of domestic terrorism, but a motive has not yet been identified.

The gunman, identified as 22-year-old Navy sailor Gabriel Romero of Texas, killed two shipyard workers and wounded a third before taking his own life. He was armed for his job standing watch at a submarine and was dead when authorities arrived, they said. 

In another shooting at a Navy base this week, a Saudi military member who was in aviation training at Naval Air Station Pensacola in Florida opened fire in a classroom building Friday morning, killing three people before he was shot and killed by deputies. 

Authorities say 12 people were hurt, four of whom died, including the shooter.

RELATED: Shooter at Naval Air Station Pensacola was Saudi aviation student, governor says

A military official says the sailor in the Pearl Harbor shooting was unhappy with his commanders and had been undergoing counseling. 

The official, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss personnel matters not made public, also said on Friday that Romero was facing non-judicial punishment. That is a lower-level administrative process for minor misconduct. 

It was not known if he knew his victims, 49-year-old Roldan Agustin and 30-year-old Vincent Kapoi Jr.

Relatives told Hawaii News Now in a statement that Kapoi "will always be that easy going, fun loving, 'let's do this' man that will remain in our hearts.' 

Family members told AP that Agustin had served in the Navy and retired from the Army National Guard before becoming a metals inspector at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard. His brother said he enjoyed working on cars with his friends and spending time with family.

“We will forever remember Roldan to be humble and honest, and a generous and patient man,” the statement said.

RELATED: Gunman in deadly Pearl Harbor shooting used service weapons

The person wounded in the naval shipyard attack, a 36-year-old man, is hospitalized in stable condition.

Security will be beefed up for Saturday's ceremony to remember the attack on Pearl Harbor 78 years ago that thrust the U.S. into World War II.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Credit: AP
Security stands guard outside the main gate at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, in Hawaii, Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2019.

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