Former Navy SEAL Robert O'Neill said in an interview with The Washington Post that he was the one who fired the final shot to kill Osama bin Laden in 2011 . The 38-year-old Montanan also said that other SEAL team members were involved in the raid , including Matt Bissonnette , who detailed the group 's experiences in his memoir , `` No Easy Day . '' O'Neill , who had been serving as a SEAL for 15 years at the time of the bin Laden raid , had participated in other missions before -- but he said he feared this mission would be his most difficult . `` I did n't think I would survive , '' he told the Post . He said it was clear that Bin Laden had been killed and not merely injured from his shot when he fell to the floor with a split skull . Before he was shot , bin Laden `` had his hands on a woman 's shoulders pushing her ahead , '' O'Neill recounts , likely to deflect the attack . CNN 's Barbara Starr confirmed from a U.S. official that O'Neill was on the raid . Two Special Operations sources confirmed to CNN 's National Security analyst Peter Bergen that O'Neill was one of the shooters in bin Laden 's room -- but others in the military community have wondered whether he can claim to kill bin Laden since there were at least two others in the room who fired weapons . Did Robert O'Neill really kill bin Laden ? The Navy SEAL had previously revealed details of the mission to Esquire magazine . But he was hesitant to attach his name to the account until his identity was linked to the story on a military blog earlier this week without his consent . O'Neill also said his secret was known by members of Congress and some news organizations . He also told the Post that he received a positive response from the families of 9/11 victims when he identified himself as bin Laden 's killer to them . `` The families told me it helped bring them some closure , '' he said . SEAL commander to SEALs : Seal it . O'Neill 's move to go public is a controversial one , as it violates an unspoken military rule : Do n't seek attention for your service . `` We do not abide willful or selfish disregard for our core values in return for public notoriety or financial gain , '' said an Oct. 31 letter to the Naval Special Warfare ranks from commanding officer B.L . Losey and force master sergeant M.L . Margaraci . CNN has reached out to O'Neill but has not received a response .
Former Navy SEAL , he shot and killed Mohammed bin Ali . ` ` I did n't think I would survive , '' he said in an interview with The Washington Post .