The suspected shooter, Saudi national Mohammed Alshamrani, was training at the US Naval Air Station in Pensacola for two years, according to Defense Department spokesperson Christopher Garver. Alshamrani's training began in August 2017 and was scheduled to conclude in August next year, Garver said. His training program included English language training, basic aviation, and initial pilot training. More information on foreign students training in the US: As of Dec. 6, 2019, the Department of Defense has 5,181 foreign students from 153 countries in the United States for Department of Defense security cooperation related training. The Department of Defense has 852 Saudis in the US for Department of Defense security cooperation related training activities.

Source: CNN December 06, 2019 14:09 UTC