Carolyn Kaster/AP Photo

President Obama said today that he has called for a "seamless" federal investigation into the Navy Yard shooting, pledging the full force of his administration to bringing to justice "whoever carried out this cowardly act.

"We still don't know all the facts, but we do know that several people have been shot and some have been killed," Obama said at the beginning of a previously scheduled event on the economy in the South Court auditorium.

Obama praised as "patriots" the alleged targets of the gunman, the military and civilian personnel who work at the government facility, and offered his thoughts and prayers to the families of the victims.

"We stand with the families of those who've been harmed. They're going to need our love and support," he said. "And as we learn more about the courageous Americans who died today - their lives, their families, their patriotism - we will honor their service to the nation they helped to make great."

He then abruptly switched to remarks on the crisis in Syria, the state of the economy and the upcoming budget battles with Republicans.