Indian-American Vishnu Pandit was among 12 individuals killed by a gunman at a highly secure Navy Yard in the American capital, the latest in the series of mass shootouts in the US in the last few years.

In all 12 people — mostly military contractors — were killed when the gunman, himself a defence contractor from Fort Worth in Texas, went on a shooting rampage inside the Washington Navy Yard yesterday. The gunman, Aaron Alexis, also died in the shootout.

The Washington Metropolitan Police had yesterday released the names of seven of those who were killed in the shootout, with one of them being an Indian-American — 61-year-old Pandit.

The other six identified were Michael Arnold, 59; Sylvia Frasier, 53; Kathy Gaarde, 62; John Roger Johnson, 73; Frank Kohler, 50; and Kenneth Bernard Proctor, 46. No other details were immediately known about Pandit, except that he was a defence contractor.

President Barack Obama condemned the shooting at Washington’s Navy Yard as a “cowardly act’’.

Later, Obama issued a proclamation in the honour of those who died in the shooting and ordered that the national flag be flown at half-mast. He also cancelled a musical evening scheduled at the White House.

Obama, who personally monitored the developments, called FBI director James Comey to get an update on the status of the investigations. The FBI has sought information about Alexis, which it believes was responsible for the massacre.

“Alexis’ place of birth is Queens, New York, and his last known residence was Ft. Worth, Texas,” the FBI said in a statement.

Washington DC Mayor Vincent Gray said that the motives of the shooter were not yet known.

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