VICTIM  OF  ACTIVE  SHOOTER

Joshua Kaleb Watson was the victim of an active shooter at the Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida, on December 6, 2019 and has been widely described as “A Hero” for his actions in connection with the incident.  Authorities reported the shooter was a 21-year old Second Lieutenant in the Royal Saudi Air Force from Saudi Arabia who was a student naval flight officer of the Naval Aviation Schools Command and had been training in the United States since 2017.  Without warning, he suddenly opened fire with a handgun inside a classroom which injured eight individuals and killed three U.S. Navy men, including Watson.  It has been reported that as shots rang out, Watson headed toward the shooter and sustained five gunshot wounds before turning and although heavily wounded, proceeded out of the building where he flagged down first responders and gave an accurate description of the shooter and his whereabouts.  Watson was immediately transported to nearby Baptist Hospital where he died of his wounds.  He was credited with saving countless lives as the information and details he furnished to first responders was invaluable as they quickly engaged and killed the shooter.

Watson grew up in Enterprise, Alabama, where he graduated from Enterprise High School in 2014 where he was known for his involvement in the JROTC program, the National Honor Society, and the French National Honor Society.  As a high school student, Watson sustained a football injury which limited his mobility so he reportedly joined the JROTC program where he could become an active member of the rifle team, a sport he readily embraced.  Here he also learned about the U.S. Naval Academy, and when he entered the Academy, he continued his interest and captained the 2018-2019 Rifle Team in addition to being a wrestling coach.  Upon graduation in June 2019, Watson was commissioned an Ensign and chosen for aviation training.  Upon graduation he was initially assigned to the Naval Academy’s Physical Education Department until he reported to Pensacola in November 2019 to begin aviation training.

Thus, Watson had been at Pensacola only two weeks before his tragic death.

Submitted by CDR Roy A. Mosteller, USNR (Ret)