At Least 7 Dead, 20 Wounded in Shootings at Ft. Hood in Texas

rholland · 11-05-2009, 02:23 PM

DEVELOPING: A pair of mass shootings at Ft. Hood military post in Texas left at least 7 dead and 20 wounded Thursday, and one suspected gunman is on the loose, the Army said.

A massive manhunt was under way for the suspect at large, Fox News confirmed, and one person was in custody. The New York Post said that there were two shooters at the Army post massacre; other reports said there were three.

An Army spokesman at the Pentagon said the shootings began about 1:30 p.m. Thursday at a personnel and medical processing center at Ft. Hood.

Lt. Col. Nathan Banks said two shooters were apparently involved. There is no word yet on who they were, nor on the identities of the dead.

The second incident took place at a theater on Ft. Hood, according to Banks.

Some media reports said the number of victims remained unclear.

Banks said a motive wasn't immediately known and it is too soon to tell whether there is any link to battle stress or repeated deployments. The Army is suffering a record high suicide rate and other signs of stress from fighting two wars.

Army officials didn't know whether the victims were civilians or military personnel.

The men were reportedly dressed in Army fatigues, but military officials couldn't confirm that they were Army personnel.

The base and area schools were on lockdown after the mass shooting, and all those on the Army post were asked to gather for a head count.

The FBI was going to Ft. Hood to provide assistance.

There have been several previous deadly incidents at Ft. Hood, including a shooting of one soldier by another at a party in July; a rape and fatal shooting of an Army medic at her apartment near the post 11 years ago; and the murder-suicide of a lieutenant by a soldier in September 2008.

SpiritOne · 11-05-2009, 02:43 PM

Now they are reporting as many as 9 dead.

How does this happen on a military base? Shouldn't there be some armed soldiers walking around to shoot back?? If our soldiers aren't safe on a base on American Soil how can we expect to protect them in foreign countries???

LandShark · 11-05-2009, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpiritOne

Now they are reporting as many as 9 dead.

How does this happen on a military base? Shouldn't there be some armed soldiers walking around to shoot back?? If our soldiers aren't safe on a base on American Soil how can we expect to protect them in foreign countries???

Come on Spirit, you were in the military so you know the answer to that.

Just like the No Gun rules at schools, it doesn't really matter to those that wish to cause harm to others.

SpiritOne · 11-05-2009, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LandShark

Come on Spirit, you were in the military so you know the answer to that.

Just like the No Gun rules at schools, it doesn't really matter to those that wish to cause harm to others.

Every gate guard I ever passed at a Marine Base was armed, during peacetime I might add. I have also been in units where duty SGT, duty officer and Cpl of the Guard are armed at all times. Its not uncommon to be on base and be surrounded by loaded weapons.

LandShark · 11-05-2009, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpiritOne

Every gate guard I ever passed at a Marine Base was armed, during peacetime I might add. I have also been in units where duty SGT, duty officer and Cpl of the Guard are armed at all times. Its not uncommon to be on base and be surrounded by loaded weapons.

Ft. Hood is a small city, 40k+. It just isn't possible to have an MP on every corner.

**Steelyeyedone** · 11-05-2009, 03:04 PM

Gate guards (mostly DA civilians these days) and M.P's (50/50 Military/D.A Civilians best guess) are armed. Thats it.

bestatchess · 11-05-2009, 03:33 PM

They are reporting 11 dead 31 wounded. One dead suspect and two detained suspects. A conspiracy?

"The suspected gunman was identified as Major Malik Nadal Hasan."

Tough to identify friends and foes when you issue the enemy U.S. weapons and uniforms.

Pops · 11-05-2009, 03:41 PM

Yea, Ft Hood is HUGE covering 339 square miles and 52,000 troops earlier this year.

Here's the latest update.

Army: 12 die in dual shootings at Fort Hood, Texas - Yahoo! News

12 dead, 31 hurt in attacks at Fort Hood

By APRIL CASTRO and ANNE GEARAN, Associated Press Writers April Castro And Anne Gearan, Associated Press Writers – 1 min ago
FORT HOOD, Texas – A soldier opened fire at a U.S. Army base in Fort Hood, Texas on Thursday, unleashing a stream of gunfire that left 12 people dead and 31 wounded. Authorities killed the gunman, and apprehended two other soldiers suspected in the attack.

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.

daptech · 11-05-2009, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bestatchess

"The suspected gunman was identified as Major Malik Nadal Hasan."

..........................

Heard one report that the Major had converted to a certain religion.
-
Correction..........his cousin says he was not a convert, he always was....
He wanted out of the military & did not want to deploy.

bestatchess · 11-05-2009, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daptech

Heard one report that the Major had converted to a certain religion.

"The least [reward] for the people of Heaven is 80,000 servants and 72 wives, over which stands a dome of pearls, aquamarine and ruby."

I guess he couldn't resist.

37L1 · 11-05-2009, 04:43 PM

72 wives?

That isn't heaven, Brother.

jjski78 · 11-05-2009, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bestatchess

They are reporting 11 dead 31 wounded. One dead suspect and two detained suspects. A conspiracy?

"The suspected gunman was identified as Major Malik Nadal Hasan."

Tough to identify friends and foes when you issue the enemy U.S. weapons and uniforms.

But, BUT, we're not at war with ISLAM!!!!

Maybe, maybe not, but they sure seem to be at war with us.

jjski78 · 11-05-2009, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 37L1

72 wives?

That isn't heaven, Brother.

72 virgins. And they don't specify whether they're male or female.

daptech · 11-05-2009, 06:18 PM

I heard enough..........
-
Breitbart.tv Co-Worker: Ft. Hood Suspect Made ‘Outlandish’ Comments Condemning US Foreign Policy
-
http://assme.org/tag/dr-nidal-malik-hasan/

srvfan · 11-05-2009, 08:20 PM

He obviously came unglued in a big way if he didn't want to deploy and that was it he could have gone AWOL or simply shot himself. i have been around people who have snapped seriously mentally ill Thnkfully in both cases loaded weapons wheren't at arms reach If they where i might not be here right now.