Navy Yard gunman visited shooting range the day before the shooting, bought shotgun

WASHINGTON – An attorney for a Virginia gun store says the man identified as the Navy Yard gunman bought a shotgun and ammunition there the day before the rampage.

Michael Slocum said in an email that Aaron Alexis visited Sharpshooters Small Arms Range on Sunday. He says Alexis rented a rifle, bought bullets and used the range. He then bought a shotgun and 24 shells. Authorities say he had a shotgun with him when he entered a building at the Navy Yard on Monday and started firing, killing 12 people.

Slocum says the store ran a federal background check on Alexis and it was approved. Law enforcement visited the range Monday, reviewing video and store records.

The store is located about 15 miles (24 kilometres) from the Navy Yard.

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