Navy Yard shooter 'was in early stages of treatment'

The gunman who killed 12 people before being shot dead by police at the Washington Navy Yard had a history of violent outbursts, was at least twice accused of firing guns in anger, and was in the early stages of treatment for serious mental problems.

But Aaron Alexis, a 34-year-old military contractor and former Navy reservist, apparently managed to exploit loopholes in the nation’s patchwork of complicated gun laws designed to keep weapons out of the hands of dangerous people.