AL-AHSA: The uncle of a Saudi officer who shot three people dead at a US Navy base in Florida on Friday said that his nephew’s actions were a crime that had nothing to do with his family or tribe.
Mohammed Al-Shamrani, 21, from Al-Ahsa, a 2nd lieutenant in the Royal Saudi Air Force, opened fire in a classroom building at Naval Air Station Pensacola where he was attending a training program. He was killed by US sheriff’s deputies who responded to the incident.
Shamrani’s uncle, Saad bin Hantam Shamrani, told Arab News on Sunday that the family found the tragedy inexplicable. 
“Nothing unusual was noticed in Mohammed’s behavior… he was known to love people and help them,” he said.
“We are all still looking for the truth … to know the causes of this painful incident and its implications. What happened is a crime that concerns only the attacker and has nothing to do with his family and his tribe.”
Shamrani said his nephew had been a distinguished high school student, and had applied to the Air Academy after graduating. There, after six months, he got a scholarship to join a specialized aviation program in the US.
“The last conversation I had with him was less than a month ago, when he assured me that his studies were going well and he expected to graduate in the coming months,” Shamrani said.
The shooting has been condemned by Saudi Arabia and the Saudi public-- many of whom have lived and worked in the US. 
“My condolences go out to the families of the victims. I hope they find peace in their lives after such a tragedy,” said Nedda Akhonbay, a Saudi-American communications professional in Jeddah.
“As a Saudi-American, and having spent many years in the US and making friends who became like family, I thought this attack was very close to home, and I hope both people work together to get past it.”