Washington Navy Yard shootings: Hero Navy worker leads blind colleague to safety

A gunman has killed several people and wounded up to 10 others at a US navy centre in Washington. Chris Moody is a Yahoo News writer reporting from the scene. Amid the scenes of chaos he was told of one inspiring act of kindness and bravery:

Omar Grant, a civilian employee at Navy Yard, was one the first floor of the atrium shortly after 8am when the shots rang out. Mr Grant was with his colleague, Lindwood, a seeing-impaired employee who uses a walking stick.

Mr Grant told Yahoo News: "We heard two shots and started wondering if that was the sound of someone dropping something or if they were really shots.

"We heard three more shots and that's when people started running out of the building and getting the hell out of there."

While others ran for the exits, Mr Grant took Lindwood by the arm and carefully led him to safety.

Mr Grant and Lindwood (who did not want to give his last name) walked slowly together from the base to the Metro. Mr Grant held his arm and carefully directed him the entire way and escorted him to the train.

Chris Moody also talked to Rick Mason - an administrative specialist program management
specialist for the US Navy. Mr Mason told Moody:

"I was on the 4th floor, same as the shooter. The shooter had a shotgun, aiming down into the atrium from 4th floor. He was targeting people who walked into the cafeteria. I heard 5 shots."