Sylvia Frasier, a 53-year-old Black woman, had built a life of dedication and warmth in Washington, D.C. For over a decade, she was a valued employee at the Naval Sea Systems Command, where she worked as an information assurance manager. Her diligence and expertise were evident in her academic achievements, having earned both a bachelor's and a master's degree in information systems from Strayer University.
Friends and family remember her for a beautiful smile that could light up a room and a kind, sweet nature that endeared her to everyone she met. She was a beloved daughter and a devoted sister, considered a 'jewel' by her siblings.
On the morning of September 16, 2013, Sylvia's life was tragically cut short in a place where she had dedicated so much of her professional life. She was one of twelve innocent civilians killed in a horrific mass shooting inside Building 197 at the Washington Navy Yard. The workday had just begun when a lone gunman, Aaron Alexis, a 34-year-old civilian contractor, unleashed a violent rampage that plunged the naval facility into chaos and terror.
The attack was sudden and indiscriminate, leaving a trail of devastation and loss. Alexis, armed with a shotgun he had brought into the building and later a pistol he took from a victim, moved through the building, targeting civilians. In the midst of this senseless violence, Sylvia Frasier was fatally shot. The ordeal ended when law enforcement officers confronted and killed the gunman, bringing the immediate threat to a close but leaving a community to grapple with the profound and lasting impact of the tragedy. As Alexis was the sole perpetrator and was killed at the scene, no arrests were made in connection with Sylvia Frasier's death.
