• Why Jihad Watch?
  • About Robert Spencer and Staff Writers
  • FAQ
  • Books
  • Muhammad
  • Islam 101
  • Privacy

Jihad Watch

Exposing the role that Islamic jihad theology and ideology play in the modern global conflicts

Chattanooga jihad murderer was “a devout Muslim”

Jul 17, 2015 6:14 am By Robert Spencer

Chattanooga shooting

The Islamic State has called upon devout Muslims to murder military personnel in Western countries. Authorities, however, are still searching for a motive.

“Who was Chattanooga shooter Mohammad Youssuf Abdulazeez?,” by Ben Brumfield and Scott Zamost, CNN, July 17, 2015:

Chattanooga, Tennessee (CNN)A once devoted, disciplined mixed martial arts fighter. A top student known for smarts, charm and humor. A devout Muslim, who kept in touch with his roots in the Middle East.

That’s how a former coach and classmates describe Mohammad Youssuf Abdulazeez, 24, who shot dead four U.S. Marines and wounded three more people in Chattanooga, Tennessee, on Thursday, then died in police gunfire.

People who knew him were stunned to hear that he was the man who sprayed a military recruiting center at a strip mall with bullets then drove seven miles to assault a Navy Operational Support Center….

“There were tears in my eyes,” said Abdulazeez’s former mixed martial arts coach Scott Schraeder about the moment he heard the news. “He was one of the nicest kids we trained.”

Abdulazeez was born in Kuwait and had Jordanian citizenship, law enforcement officials said, and was a naturalized U.S. citizen. Schraeder thought of him as “all American.”

So did former 10th grade classmate Kagan Wagner, who now lives in Washington state.

She was following the news about the shooting spree in her native Chattanooga. Then she heard her old classmate’s name. “I thought to myself, there’s only one Mohammad Abdulazeez that I know in Chattanooga. I immediately, I was like, please don’t let it be him,” Wagner told CNN’s Drew Griffin.

She never would have thought he could do something like that.

“He always fit in,” she said. “He had a big group of friends. He was never bullied or treated like an outcast. He was pretty popular.” And he was funny. “Always had a witty comment to add.”

Next to his senior yearbook photo from 2008, Abdulazeez added a quip he attributed to “Hijabman.” “My name causes national security alerts. What does yours do?” it said.

Wagner believes he was making a joke. “It was funny at the time,” she said, “and now, it’s a little morbidly ironic.”

Eventually, the two classmates lost touch after graduation. Abdulazeez went to the University of Tennessee, where he graduated with a degree in electrical engineering in 2012.

People who knew Abdulazeez described him as religious.

“He was a devout Muslim and used to talk about his families’ prayer habits and that always interested me to hear about his culture,” said former classmate Samantha Barnette.

He at times interrupted training sessions with fighting coach Schraeder to pray.

“I wouldn’t call it overly religious,” Schraeder said. “He followed his religion; he would pray at six o’clock. He’d go into our office and pray.” But he would skip prayers at times, he said.

Schraeder does not believe he was an extremist.

“His favorite training partner to grapple with — not striking, but actually submission grapple with, when you’re actually on the ground in close proximity contact with — was a Russian Jew, hardly what you would see as someone who would be a radical Islamist,” Schraeder said….

Investigators are examining a blog authored by a user designated as “myabdulazeez,” but they have not confirmed that it belonged to the gunman.

Only two posts appear on it, both dated three days prior to the shooting. One post compares life on Earth with being in a pleasant prison. The other encourages readers to follow historic Islamic figures, who the writer said fought in jihadi wars.

Not in databases

Abdulazeez was not in any U.S. databases of suspected terrorists, a U.S. official said.

His only reported prior trouble with the law was a DUI arrest in April. His court hearing was scheduled for July 30.

When he killed the four Marines, Abdulazeez was carrying an AK-47 style rifle and a lot of ammunition, a law enforcement official said….

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)

Follow me on Facebook

Filed Under: American jihadis, Featured, Islamic State (aka ISIS, ISIL, Daesh), Jihad in the U.S. Tagged With: Mohammad Youssuf Abdulazeez


Learn more about RevenueStripe...

Comments

  1. the renegade says

    Jul 17, 2015 at 7:33 am

    MUHAMMAD IN REAL LIFE = SMITH FROM MOVIE MATRIX.

    PURE, UNADULTERATED AND IN YOUR FACE DESTRUCTIVE EVIL MAGLOMANIAC.

    HOW COULD A SANE, SENSIBLE AND INTELLIGENT HUMAN BRINGS FOLLOW EVIL TEACHINGS OF MUHAMMAD.

    F£¥₩ THIS MUHAMMAD, BLOODY MO €£^/$#^& F:&&^//&!

  2. mortimer says

    Jul 17, 2015 at 7:34 am

    Ramadan…the month of jihad and VICTORIES, according to Islam’s leading mullahs in Egypt. What a victory? A homicidal, kamikaze attack to celebrate the last day of RAMADAN!

    Those who knew him said he seemed ‘a normal guy’. So how can we tell when a Muslim will commit JIHAD? We can never know what goes on in his mind, but we can expect that Ramadan will bring out the worst in him, because there is nothing good in Islam for the kafir. The more you learn about Islam, the more you understand the prime directive of world conquest.

    Moderate Muslims are sleeping Muslims. Islamists are Muslims in action.

    This attack will cheer Muslims, because it is a ‘VICTORY’ for Islam against the great satan…Muslims hate freedom…they are slaves. Jihad…normative Islam, rather than an aberration.

    • Michael Copeland says

      Jul 17, 2015 at 9:04 am

      How can we tell when…?
      We cannot. The government makes us all play Islamic Russian Roulette.

  3. jewdog says

    Jul 17, 2015 at 7:39 am

    They say he was smart, but he probably lagged in reading comprehension, which perhaps explains his missing the peaceful message of his faith. But don’t worry, our leaders will explain it all to us.

  4. Tuscany says

    Jul 17, 2015 at 7:40 am

    According to this idiot an CNN
    http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2015/07/cnn-expert-unsure-if-chattanooga-shooter-muhammad-abdulazeez-is-muslim/

  5. Tuscany says

    Jul 17, 2015 at 7:43 am

    Someone should have given the terrorist a job.. After all obama said that was all they needed to stop the killings.

  6. Dan says

    Jul 17, 2015 at 7:49 am

    “He was one of the nicest…” when describing Muslims is beginning to send chills down my spine.

    One of my best friend’s daughter is dating a Muslim and that’s EXACTLY what he says. “That boy is one of the nicest kids you’ll ever meet. Hard working. Top grades in school. Polite…”

    About the only thing helping my buddy out is that around a year ago, after people always making comments, (some kind of snide) I told my buddy, “Just for a week, watch the news sites I am. Just one week. Please. And if you think I’ve gone off the deep end, I’ll quit watching.” and quipped, “I’ll even get ‘help’.”

    My friend is now “worse” than I am.

    And I’m the one who spent over a year sailing Middle East waters and got through three pirate attacks.

    • Dan says

      Jul 17, 2015 at 7:51 am

      Comments about me being too paranoid that is.

    • dumbledoresarmy says

      Jul 17, 2015 at 8:29 am

      Dan – have you come across these two articles? Worth reading and sharing around.

      Ex-Muslim Nonie Darwish’s article “The Nice Muslim Family Next Door”.

      http://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/3681/muslim-family-next-door

      The Nice Muslim Family Next Door
      by Nonie Darwish
April 22, 2013 at 5:00 am

      And a thoroughly chilling article by Coptic-American Raymond Ibrahim.

      http://www.raymondibrahim.com/islam/when-muslims-betray-non-muslim-friends-and-neighbors/

      When Muslims Betray Non-Muslim Friends and Neighbors

      And your best friend whose daughter is dating a Muslim should get himself a few books and leave them lying about the house. To wit, Betty Mahmoudy’s “Not without My Daughter”, Phyllis Chesler’s “An American Bride in Kabul”, Rosemary Sookhdeo’s “Stepping Into the Shadows” (full of cautionary tales about women who got sucked in by ‘marriage jihad’) and, for more cautionary tales, two books by a woman writing under the nom de plume “Cassandra”, entitled “33 Secrets Arab Men Don’t Tell American Women” (the title should of course be “33 Secrets Muslim Men Don’t Tell Infidel Women”) and “Escape from an Arab [sic: should be “Muslim” – dda] Marriage”. And then there’s Miriam Ali, “Without Mercy”. All can probably be found on Amazon.

      Because Muslim men have a horrible habit of coming across like Prince Charming while they’re sweeping some unwary infidel female off her feet…but morphing into ugly toads the moment they have the foolish girl fully under their control.

      • Dan says

        Jul 17, 2015 at 5:25 pm

        Will check them out.

        Thanks.

      • Dan says

        Jul 17, 2015 at 5:28 pm

        Seen the first.

        On canadafreepress.com I believe..

    • The Doctor says

      Jul 17, 2015 at 10:36 am

      I wonder if the muslim in question is even an US citizen, or if he’s fishing for a US passport.

  7. David Quilty says

    Jul 17, 2015 at 8:00 am

    How do they say these things with a straight face at this point…”domestic terrorism”…. its pharisaical …

    Rick: How can you close me up? On what grounds?
    Captain Renault: I’m shocked, shocked to find that gambling is going on in here!
    [a croupier hands Renault a pile of money]
    Croupier: Your winnings, sir.
    Captain Renault: [sotto voce] Oh, thank you very much.
    [aloud]
    Captain Renault: Everybody out at once!

  8. David Quilty says

    Jul 17, 2015 at 8:05 am

    farcical that should be…

  9. dumbledoresarmy says

    Jul 17, 2015 at 8:13 am

    Test.

  10. dumbledoresarmy says

    Jul 17, 2015 at 8:16 am

    Hey, wow, I can actually see the Comments and make comments again. What happened?

  11. Gary says

    Jul 17, 2015 at 8:54 am

    “But the Spirit says expressly that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons,” 1 Timothy 4:1

    Wait?! Someone can actually be influenced by seducing spirits and doctrines of demons?!!!!

    You mean it’s possible that the “Religion of Peace” could be straight from the pit of hell?!!!

    Does that mean all those children murdered in the name of Ramadan could have been innocent?

    And the women murdered in the name of “Honor” may have been justified in leaving Islam?

    I mean who would want to entrust their lives to demons???

  12. Thomas says

    Jul 17, 2015 at 9:08 am

    Our troops should have their guns with them at all times when they are in uniform. The USA is a war and the enemy can strike at anytime. Our troops need to be able to defend themselves.

    If someone cannot be trusted with their gun, they should not be in the military.

    Our troops cannot continue to be sitting ducks!

    • dumbledoresarmy says

      Jul 18, 2015 at 8:38 am

      Yes.

      And, given what happened to Lee Rigby, and what happened to that poor young unarmed Canadian soldier who was at watch beside the Cenotaph outside the Canadian parliament, that should be the case not only in the USA but in the UK and Canada and Australia and across Europe and, for that matter, the whole of the West…and beyond the West, too, in all lands where there is currently a Mohammedan Fifth Column in residence. Muslims try to attack IDF soldiers in Israel, all the time.

      Indeed, given what happened to Lee Rigby – he was on his own, and he was run over by a car and *then* mutilated with machetes – our soldiers when out in uniform should be in pairs.

      The Muslim who attacked the young cop in New York got taken out by the other cops; the Muslim who attacked *two* soldiers in Canada killed one but the other soldier got *him*.

      But to do this would involve recognising that our soldiers – and for that matter, our policemen – are likely to be attacked **at any time** by the members of a specific ideological gestalt, namely Islam, and that they should therefore at all times, when in uniform, *go armed*, exactly as if they were patrolling in enemy territory; and that means realizing that…we are at war, and a huge Fifth Column is present *on our own soil*.

      And the next step on from that is to put two and two together and think: why should this ideologically-defined Fifth Column be allowed to remain? And why should we be adding to it?

      Soldiers on *home turf* SHOULDN’T need to go armed. The fact that they *do* need to go armed – as if they were on patrol in enemy territory – means that our countries have been *invaded* and are in a sense *occupied*.

  13. vlparker says

    Jul 17, 2015 at 9:23 am

    Chattanooga jihad murderer was “a devout Muslim”

    Yeah, but what’s his motive? Why did he do this? Did anyone hear him scream Allahu Akhbar? Maybe he was a wonderful, moderate muslim who just “snapped” because of islamophobia. Maybe it was the Confederate flag that drove him to it. It couldn’t have been islam. We all know islam is a religion of peace.

  14. Baucent says

    Jul 17, 2015 at 9:44 am

    How many times have we heard a story like this? The Jihadi is described as this loveable guy who wouldn’t hurt a fly. And everyone is trying to figure out what went wrong. Well, it’s quite simple he got serious about his religion. And got inspired by the soothing tones of some online Islamist groomer. In fact his transformation may have taken place over only a few weeks.

    The other ridiculous charade is the FBI straight face statement that “We don’t know what motivated the attack”. Common sense would give even a novice investigator a strong lead on that one. But these days FBI leadership has banned any discussion on Islam inspired terror. Willful ignorance. The BBC headline is “No evidence of Terror link”. I would say “No evidence Terror not the motive.”

  15. fido says

    Jul 17, 2015 at 9:51 am

    —Next to his senior yearbook photo from 2008, Abdulazeez added a quip he attributed to “Hijabman.” “My name causes national security alerts. What does yours do?” it said. Wagner believes he was making a joke. “It was funny at the time,” she said, “and now, it’s a little morbidly ironic.”—

    Oh, gee, imagine, a friendly, smiling muslim would do a thing like that!

    Uh, every day of the year.

  16. PRCS says

    Jul 17, 2015 at 9:53 am

    It’s almost funny to hear and read the assertions of the many journalists, pundits and politicians who tell us that jihadists are simultaneously “devout” and “extremists”.

    It’s really a failure to see the forest for the trees.

  17. Edward says

    Jul 17, 2015 at 10:57 am

    “The Islamic State has called upon devout Muslims to murder military personnel in Western countries. Authorities, however, are still searching for a motive.”

    WHAT MOTIVE!

    The motivation that prompted this barbarian to kill has been planted to this bastard by the very same evil manifesto that is being chanted in the mosques worldwide. This crime has been perpetrated before hand by the evil thoughts of killing remotely by other accomplices; that is now is being manifested into a realistic sphere. Certainly there’s a connection to Islam’s rituals!

    Chanting (e.g., mantra, sacred text, the name of God/Spirit, etc.) is a commonly used spiritual practice. Like prayer, chant may be a component of either personal or group practice. Diverse spiritual traditions consider chant a route to commit evil transgressions!

    This is not a lone wolf terrorist crime…its actions were perpetrated by many others with his same mindset to kill!

    Welcome to the world where our free will minds can be used for good or for evil; evil as it has been witnessed by this murder!

  18. William Lucas Harvey Jr. says

    Jul 17, 2015 at 10:58 am

    “4 US Marines Killed By Rampaging Gunman Called Muhammad!”

    This IS what we can expect more of in the future, as long as America remains under the thumb of an “Imperial Potus”, Barack Hussein Obama Jr., and HIS Administration, who IS quite obviously lecturing America and the World, with Pro Islam Sympathuies, and Pro Muslim Sympathies, while promoting Anti American Values, and Anti Christian Values, thru HIS OWN DOCUMENTED Actions, Deeds, and Words such as: “We do not consider ourselves a Christian nation.”, “Islam has always been part of America”, “The future must not belong to those who slander the Prophet of Islam”, “The sweetest sound I know is the Muslim call to prayer”, “The Islamic State ISIS is not Islamic”, and MORE.

    Some of Many Links on this Issue (below):
    https://kafircrusaders.wordpress.com/2015/07/16/4-us-marines-killed-by-rampaging-gunman-called-muhammad/
    http://www.nowtheendbegins.com/blog/?p=15200 “40 Mind-Blowing Quotes From Barack Hussein Obama On Islam And Christianity When someone shows you who they are, believe them”

  19. DUI says

    Jul 17, 2015 at 11:14 am

    “DUI arrest in April.”

    What was he under the influence of. Devout muslims don’t drink alcohol.

  20. Jay Boo says

    Jul 17, 2015 at 11:45 am

    Damn
    3 billion Muslims hijacking a peaceful religion.
    — again

  21. Angemon says

    Jul 17, 2015 at 1:15 pm

    “He was a devout Muslim

    Gee, who could have seen that one coming?…

  22. Kepha says

    Jul 17, 2015 at 6:12 pm

    I’m not surprised that Abdulazeez was described as a nice guy.

    When I was interviewing Cambodian DP’s on the Thai border for humanitarian parole into the USA (I was with the State Department then), some of the UN people talked about meeting a certain exiled Cambodian fighter as one of the most sweet-natured, pleasant, and polite people you’d ever meet. He was Ta Mok, Pol Pot’s #2 guy whose hands were just dripping with blood. A lot of very evil people are capable of turning on the charm.

    • dumbledoresarmy says

      Jul 18, 2015 at 8:40 am

      Exactly.

      Wolves in sheep’s clothing.

      Serial killers wouldn’t be able to get kids or girls or hitch-hikers to get into the car with them if they didn’t know how to turn on the charm…

      Pimps wouldn’t be able to suck girls in, if they didn’t know how to sweet-talk at the beginning.

  23. Joe Wood says

    Jul 17, 2015 at 7:44 pm

    Why was this person even in our country? It’s far past time to close the mosques and deport the Muslims.

    • dumbledoresarmy says

      Jul 18, 2015 at 8:43 am

      Put that in a brief, polite letter to your elected representative, your Senator, and your State Governor.

      Mention Fort Hood, and the Boston Marathon attack, and the failed Times Square attack, and this latest murder of four US Marines (which is a head-on attack upon a legendary US military organisation; a Muslim ‘trophy’ killing, like counting coup).

      And state, flatly, that you are sick and tired of playing “Muslim roulette” (be sure to mention just how nice and sweet and wonderful everybody thought this latest jihadi was, until he picked up his gun and started running amok), and that you want ALL Muslim entry into the USA stopped. Now. Precautionary principle. Got Muslims? Got Jihad. More Muslims? More Jihad. Fewer Muslims..? Less Jihad.

  24. R.C. says

    Jul 18, 2015 at 8:36 am

    Guns don’t spray bullets!

  25. Jerry says

    Jul 18, 2015 at 6:52 pm

    The Saudi Muslims arrest hundreds of Jihadis inside their mosques.
    The Tunsian Muslims arrest many Jihadis and close eighty of their mosques.

    Obama does not allow the FBI or NSA or or the military of police to investigate Jihadis.and there is no attempt to close mosques where Jihad is incited.

    David Cameron is also in denial about Jihad preached, incited and instigated in British mosques.

    Netanyahu allows Jihad to be preached incited and instigated from the Al Aqsa mosque – the
    fake destination of Mohamad’s horse which was only built hundreds of years after the deaths of both Mohamad and his horse.

FacebookYoutubeTwitterLog in

Subscribe to the Jihad Watch Daily Digest

You will receive a daily mailing containing links to the stories posted at Jihad Watch in the last 24 hours.
Enter your email address to subscribe.

Please wait...

Thank you for signing up!
If you are forwarding to a friend, please remove the unsubscribe buttons first, as they my accidentally click it.

Subscribe to all Jihad Watch posts

You will receive immediate notification.
Enter your email address to subscribe.
Note: This may be up to 15 emails a day.

Donate to JihadWatch
FrontPage Mag

Search Site

Translate

The Team

Robert Spencer in FrontPageMag
Robert Spencer in PJ Media

Articles at Jihad Watch by
Robert Spencer
Hugh Fitzgerald
Christine Douglass-Williams
Andrew Harrod
Jamie Glazov
Daniel Greenfield

Contact Us

Terror Attacks Since 9/11

Archives

  • 2020
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2019
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2018
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2017
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2016
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2015
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2014
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2013
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2012
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2011
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2010
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2009
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2008
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2007
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2006
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2005
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2004
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2003
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • March

All Categories

You Might Like

Learn more about RevenueStripe...

Recent Comments

  • gravenimage on Chief Rabbi of UK Says It’s ‘Alarming’ That 44% of Muslims Are Anti-Semitic
  • Boycott Turkey on Iranian Kurdistan: Muslim brothers behead their sister in honor killing over her romantic relationship
  • gravenimage on India: Police make first arrest for ‘love jihad’ under new law
  • Mojdeh on New study reveals that Muslim religiosity strongly linked to hatred towards the West
  • Jack on Iranian Kurdistan: Muslim brothers behead their sister in honor killing over her romantic relationship

Popular Categories

dhimmitude Sharia Jihad in the U.S ISIS / Islamic State / ISIL Iran Free Speech

Robert Spencer FaceBook Page

Robert Spencer Twitter

Robert Spencer twitter

Robert Spencer YouTube Channel

Books by Robert Spencer

Jihad Watch® is a registered trademark of Robert Spencer in the United States and/or other countries - Site Developed and Managed by Free Speech Defense

Content copyright Jihad Watch, Jihad Watch claims no credit for any images posted on this site unless otherwise noted. Images on this blog are copyright to their respective owners. If there is an image appearing on this blog that belongs to you and you do not wish for it appear on this site, please E-mail with a link to said image and it will be promptly removed.

Our mailing address is: David Horowitz Freedom Center, P.O. Box 55089, Sherman Oaks, CA 91499-1964

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.