12 Soldiers Killed and 31 Wounded in Fort Hood Shooting
Suspected Gunman Is Identified as Major Malik Nadal Hasan
By EMILY FRIEDMAN
Nov. 5, 2009
Twelve people have been killed and 31 wounded in a shooting spree at a Texas military base by what officials believe was possibly carried out by an Army officer.
The suspected gunman was identified as Major Malik Nadal Hasan. He was killed and two other suspects have been apprehended, Lt. Robert W. Cone said.
The gunman used two handguns, Cone said. He wasn't sure if the shooter reloaded the weapons during the attack.
The general called the attack "a terrible tragedy, stunning." He said the community was "absolutely devastated."
The extent of the injuries of victims "varies significantly," according to Cone.
President Obama called the Fort Hood shootings a "horrific outburst of violence."
"It if difficult enough to lose" soldiers overseas, but said it is "horrifying that they should lose their lives at an Army base in the U.S.," he said.
The president said "my prayers are with the wounded and the families of the fallen."
Cone said the motive for the attack, which took place just after 1:30 p.m. CT, is unclear.
Fort Hood, located just 60 miles north from Austin, is the largest U.S. military installation in the world, and has suffered the greatest number of caualities of all American bases in the war on Iraq.
The base is a 340 sq. mile facility located in Killeen, Texas and is home to the 1st Cavalry Division, which was one of the first groups of soldiers deployed to Iraq.
The military said today that "more than one shooter" opened fire in the Soldiers Readiness Processing Center and the Howze Theater on the base.
The processing center is where soldiers go to get last minute dental and medical clearance before going to war.
The Howze Theater was scheduled to hold a college graduation service this afternoon. According to a base newspaper, the Fort Hood newspaper, the ceremony was supposed to recognized soldiers and family members who had missed commencement ceremonies due to deployments.
Schools on the base has also been placed on lockdown. A message on Fort Hood's public affairs office Web site reads, "Organizations/units are instructed to execute a 100 percent accountability of all personnel. This is not a Drill. It is an Emergency Situation."
According to a source on the base, it is rare for firearms to be on the base because they are locked up.
Homeland Security said it is still gathering information and that the "Army is taking the lead" as of now. FBI agents from Waco and Austin, Texas, are being deployed to the scene.
An army spokesman said that unit commanders have been instructed to account for all of their personnel.
"The immediate concern is to make sure that all of our soldiers and family members are save and that's what commanders have been instructed to do," said Jay Adams of First Army, Division West, located at Fort Hood.
The CounterTerrorist Unit said they have "no word" yet on whether this incident was terrorism-related. At least six victims are being treated at the Metroplex Hospital five miles away.
According to icasulaties.org, 483 soldier deaths from Fort Hood since war started. Fort Hood has suffered more deaths in Iraq than any other US home base.
This is sad. What is wrong:wacko:
