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Gonzalez joined the Pentagon Force Protection Agency as a police officer in July 2018 and has been “promoted twice and reached the rank of senior officer in 2020,” according to a statement from the Agency. Pentagon force protection, which oversees security at the Pentagon.
The exact circumstances of the incident that led to Gonzalez’s death are still unclear, and Pentagon officials offered little clarity during a press briefing Tuesday afternoon. Speaking to reporters, Pentagon Force Protection Agency chief Woodrow Kusse repeatedly declined to provide substantive details of what happened.
A defense official familiar with the first reports said the officer was stabbed by an assailant and other officers reacted quickly and shot the suspect.
Prior to joining the Pentagon Force Protection Agency, Gonzalez worked for the Federal Bureau of Prisons and the Transportation Security Administration. He also served in the US military, earning a commendation medal for his service in Iraq, the statement said.
“Officer Gonzalez embodied our values of integrity and service to others,” the statement said.
Gonzalez, originally from Brooklyn, New York, was a “die-hard” Yankees fan and a graduate of Canarsie High School in New York, the statement added.
“A gregarious officer, he was appreciated and respected by his fellow officers,” the statement said. “The family of Officer Gonzalez is in our thoughts and prayers. May he rest in peace.”
The White House offered its condolences to Gonzalez’s family on Wednesday.
“I also wanted to take a moment to acknowledge the passing of Pentagon Force Protection Officer George Gonzalez, who was tragically killed yesterday in the line of duty. His life has been a life of service, a veteran of police and military, “White House press secretary Jen Psaki said at the daily press conference.
“He lost his life protecting those who protect the nation. We mourn his loss and offer our condolences to his family,” Psaki added.
Details of the incident remain unclear
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating the incident, but the number of people injured in the incident and the details of what happened in the incident remain unclear a day later.
Kusse told reporters in a briefing Tuesday that an officer was attacked on a bus platform outside the Pentagon building.
“Shots were exchanged,” he said. Kusse admitted there were several injured but did not say how many people were injured.
The “shooting event” occurred on the Pentagon compound’s bus platform and resulted in the building being locked down without personnel being allowed outside, according to a message sent to Pentagon personnel by the Pentagon Force Protection Agency.
The Metro Bus platform is a major Pentagon entrance used by thousands of people entering and exiting the building every day and is used by several bus lines in the area.
The Pentagon subway platform and the entrance to the Pentagon subway station remained closed Wednesday morning as thousands of people who work inside the Pentagon came to work.
“Trains are bypassing the Pentagon due to an ongoing police investigation outside the station. Shuttle service is available,” a tweet from the WMATA Metrorail account said Wednesday morning.
This story has been updated with additional reports.
CNN’s Barbara Starr, Evan Perez, Zachary Cohen and Betsy Klein contributed to this report
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