Mother Of Navy Yard Shooter Extends Condolences

The mother of Washington Navy Yard shooter Aaron Alexis expressed shock and sympathy for the victims of the mass shooting that left 12 people dead. INSIDE EDITION reports.

The mother of Washington Navy Yard mass murderer Aaron Alexis broke her silence and her trembling words were simply heartbreaking.

Cathleen Alexis has kept a low profile at her Brooklyn home. Working with cops, she agreed to make this recorded statement: "Our son, Aaron Alexis, has murdered twelve people and wounded several others. His actions have had a profound and everlasting effect on the familes of the victims. I don't know why he did what he did and I'll never be able to ask him why."

 A tearful Melinda Downs was a close friend of Aaron Alexis. Downs said, "Aaron was the sweetest person I'd ever known."

She spoke to Alexis just a week ago. "It's like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Who was this guy? The guy that I knew was so honorable. It breaks my heart."

Alexis was shot dead by police. His own mother seemed to realize it couldn't have gone any other way, saying, "Aaron is now in a place where he can no longer do harm to anyone, and for that I am glad."

Martin Bodrog, Mary Francis Knight, Arthur Daniels, Frank Kohler, Vishnu Pandit, Kathleen Gaarde, John Roger Johnson, Michael Arnold, Richard Ridgell, Sylvia Frasier, Kenneth Proctor, Gerald Read. These are the people Aaron Alexis killed on his senseless rampage. His mother wanted the families to know that she shared their sorrow.

Cathleen concluded, "To the families of the victims, I am so sorry this has happened, my heart is broken."