Fifth victim dies
Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Randall Smith — a reservist serving on active duty in Chattanooga — dies with members of his family by his side. Smith was the father of three young daughters. He entered the Navy after losing a college baseball scholarship to a shoulder injury.
Dies in attack
Abdulazeez dies of unknown causes during the attack. Officials confirm his death, but refuse to provide any other details at this point in time.
The local law enforcement had a great response and they were able to neutralise the threat.
Writes two blog posts
Abdulazeez writes two Islam-themes blog posts, the only posts on his blog. In the first, A Prison Called Dunya, Abdulazeez uses the hypothetical example of a prisoner who is told he would be given a test that would either take him out of his earthly prison—or send him into a more restrictive environment.
I would imagine that any sane person would devote their time to mastering the information on the study guide and stay patient with their studies, only giving time for the other things around to keep themselves focused on passing the exam. They would do this because they know and have been told that they will be rewarded with pleasures that they have never seen. [This life is a test] designed to separate the inhabitants of Paradise from the inhabitants of Hellfire.
The second, Understanding Islam: The Story of the Three Blind Men, uses the example of blind men who feel an elephant but can’t quite tell what the creature is. He says Muslims have a similar understanding of the earliest companions of the Prophet Muhammad, who he says were not like priests living in monasteries is not true, but were actually a mayor of a town, governor of a state, or leader of an army at the frontlines.
We ask Allah to make us follow their path. To give us a complete understanding of the message of Islam, and the strength the live by this knowledge, and to know what role we need to play to establish Islam in the world.
Parents divorce
Rasmia Abdulazeez petitions for divorce, arguing her husband has been abusive and has beaten her and her children. The suit is dismissed without prejudice soon after and the couple sign a post-nuptial agreement.
Graduates high school
Abdulazeez graduates from Red Bank High School, northwest of Chattanooga, where he is popular and has many friends. He likes System of a Down — and has an interest in media and filmmaking. Friends:
He had a really easy-to-get-along-with personality. Every art assignment, he would put a funny or humorous spin on it. He was kind of the funny guy in that class.
He wrestles for the team for most of his high school career, and during his last two years was a starter and team leader. Wrestling coach:
Mohammod was very humble. He always did what I asked him to do; he never gave me any problems. All the guys seemed to like him. He was not an outsider.
His yearbook photo says:
My name causes national security alerts. What does yours do?
Family moves to United States
After spending some time in Jordan, Abdulazeez’s family move to the United States. They settle in the Chattanooga area.
Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez born in Kuwait
Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez is born in Kuwait. His father is from Nablus in the West Bank and his mother is from Kuwait.