[16] Prior to the attack, at 6:39 a.m. a message on Twitter was posted by a user using the handle @M7MD_SHAMRANI, which declared hate for Americans due to its support of Israel.

[21] The suspect was shot and killed at 6:58 a.m.[17] after two deputies from the Escambia County Sheriff's Office and members of the base security force exchanged gunfire with him.

[16] The shooter killed three U.S. Navy sailors, and injured eight others who were taken to the hospital, including three of the responding police officers who sustained gunshots to their limbs.

[26][27] The FBI identified the gunman as Mohammed Saeed Alshamrani, 21, a second lieutenant in the Royal Saudi Air Force, and said he was the sole shooter.

The post referred to U.S. wars in Muslim countries, wrote of his hatred for the American people, criticized the U.S. government's support of Israel, and quoted Osama bin Laden and Anwar al-Awlaki.

The store Wings & Things Monogramming and its parking lot was used as a congregation area for many military members who were not able to enter the locked-down base.

[35] The Navy suspended flight training for all Saudi Arabian military aviation students pending the results of the FBI investigation; they will continue to get classroom instruction.

[37] Another investigation was opened by Defense Secretary Mark Esper into the vetting measures that go into accepting foreign nationals into the United States to train with the military.

[21] On January 12, 2020, Attorney General William Barr declared the Pensacola shooting an "act of terrorism" that was motivated by "jihadist ideology".

"[9] Florida senators Marco Rubio and Rick Scott called for thorough investigations of military training programs for foreign nationals on U.S. soil, and possible flaws in the trainee vetting processes.

"[40] The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed "its deep distress" after the incident and offered "its sincere condolences to the victims' families, and wishes the injured a speedy recovery" through a statement.