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12 dead after Fort Hood shooting
Published on -11/5/2009, 6:55 AM
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The shooting began around 1:30 p.m., Lt. Gen. Bob Cone said at a news conference. He said all the casualties took place at the base’s Soldier Readiness Center, where soldiers who are about to be deployed or who are returning undergo medical screening.
“It’s a terrible tragedy. It’s stunning,” Cone said.
Little was known about the three soldiers suspected of taking part in the attack. The soldier used two handguns, Cone said. It was not clear if the gunman had stopped to reload.
A graduation ceremony for soldiers who finished college courses while deployed was going on in an auditorium at the Readiness Center at the time of the shooting, said Sgt. Rebekah Lampam, a Fort Hood spokeswoman.
Greg Schanepp, U.S. Rep. John Carter’s regional director in Texas, was representing Carter at the graduation, said John Stone, a spokesman for Carter, whose district includes the Army post.
Schanepp was at the ceremony when a soldier who had been shot in the back came running toward him and alerted him of the shooting, Stone said. The soldier told Schanepp not to go in the direction of the shooter, he said. Stone said he believes Schanepp was in the theater.
The base was locked down after the shootings. The wounded were dispersed among hospitals in central Texas, Cone said.
In Washington, President Barack Obama called the shooting “a horrific outburst of violence.” He said it’s a tragedy to lose a soldier overseas and even more horrifying when they come under fire at an Army base on American soil.
“We will make sure that we get answers to every single question about this horrible incident,” the commander in chief said. “We are going to stay on this.”
Covering 339 square miles, Fort Hood is the largest active duty armored post in the United States. Home to about 52,000 troops as of earlier this year, the sprawling base is located halfway between Austin and Waco.
Around the country, some bases stepped up security precautions, but no others were locked down.
Fort Hood officially opened on Sept. 18, 1942, and was named in honor of Gen. John Bell Hood. It has been continuously used for armored training and is charged with maintaining readiness for combat missions.
12 comment(s) found
Were cool:
11/6/2009With these Islam people there is no separation between politic, law, and their religion, none! Welcome to the United States, Muslims, communist, fascist,Foreign gangs,drug cartels, and the diseases you bring with you! All we need now is a pot smoking, muslim president...Duh? I've heard of dumbing down of America, but brain dead!
(Posted by: XXXX)
: 11/6/2009
There are now 13 dead. This is an army thing not a terroist being ordered from other highups. The army blew it on this one but not sure how they could have handled it otherwise. I mean, the guy is medical doctor in pshyciatry for crying out loud. Who would have thought he would do this? Of course, in retrospect I can most certainly see how he could with a cunning and devious mind.
(Posted by: Jeremy)
Wake up from what Jeff?: 11/6/2009
There may be more going on here, but it was not planned out. I KNOW THAT FOR SURE bc he was not an infantryman. If it was a combat soldier and he thought to get 'revenge' a lot more people would have died bc planning WOULD have taken place. So don't try to go and make this into a plotted terrorist action or connect Hasan with Al Qaeda. *** See past the stereotypes!***
(Posted by: E)
muslims: 11/6/2009
Need to check out the mosque he was attending, heard of it many times....he was a good kid, then he started changing after meeting some people at his mosque...there here, and we keep the door open for it to enter....Fanaticism! Remember some years ago when a small boat pulled up a long side a US navy ship, then blew up, a US naval officer pin pointed were to blow a hole in the ship to kill the most! Who did it, a Muslim US navel officer! Our geniuses in Washington DC,they don't learn!
(Posted by: XXXX)
: 11/6/2009
Give that idiot the death sentence or put him in guantonomo bay cause if you shoot another american i consider you a terrorist
(Posted by: CJ)
Stressed out?: 11/6/2009
The officer / shooter had not seen Iraq or combat. Hes did have notice he was goihg to be deployed. .
(Posted by: Concerned for America. )
Wake up: 11/5/2009
This was an atack that was not spur of the moment, there was planning and timing involved I am sure. I know there is alot to sort out but something has to be going on for someone to spend as much time in the military to make the rank he was and then to turn your back on the country you are supposed to be defending. There is no way to really retaliate because it was one of us, but something has to change. With us shooting our own men we might as well trade the camo for red and blue and become crips and bloods.
(Posted by: Jeff)
Snapped not stressed: 11/5/2009
As a veteran myself yes we are trained for these situations, but read on. The article stated that he was informed he would deploy, not that he had been deployed. What was he stressed about? He wasn't a returning soldier suffering from his deployment. He had no wife or kids that he was leaving behind. He was also a mental health doctor. Don't you think he should have been the first to recognize stress that needed to be properly dealt with? There is obviously more to this especially after reading that he already was trying to get out of being deployed, and was dealing with a bad review on his record.
(Posted by: A Proud Veteran)
This has to do with igorant: 11/5/2009
I think we are all aware about combat stress. And the big problem ignoring people by saying that they will be alright! I am sorry for lost lives here at home! It is really sad! Anyway, I suggest to have a security in such a places like SRP sites all over the bases. Or even metal detect should be put in place. Thanks!
(Posted by: SPC Kuch, William M.)
What's up with the media coverage? : 11/5/2009
I listened to the news at 6:00 and the shooter is a Major who's name is clearly Middle Eastern. Earlier coverage wouldn't release the name but would release his rank. HUH????? What good is it to be politically correct and not release the name? What are we afraid of????? Wake up America. The gloves are off.
(Posted by: )
Not Surprised: 11/5/2009
These soldiers are dealing with emotional stress beyond the average human and that stress is overlooked because (of course) these soldiers are required to be tough but the stress they deal with can drive a human to the brink, and sadly like this situation, over the edge. Help these soldiers. No, there is no excuse for violence but an event like this cannot come as a surprise to our nation. HELP THESE SOLDIERS! There are people these soldiers can talk to but what does this nation need to do more to make sure our soldiers are taken care of emotionally so that hopefully tragic events such as this will not happen again?
(Posted by: Anonymous)
stress,stress,stress: 11/5/2009
I am not totally surprised. Most of the soldiers have been stressed out above and beyond duty.
(Posted by: )
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