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==Victims==
==Victims==
By the evening November 6, 2009, there were 13 dead (12 soldiers and one army civilian employee), and 30 wounded.<ref name= "CNN"/><ref name="AP3"/> Ten of the survivors&mdash;all with gunshot wounds&mdash;were treated at [[Scott & White Memorial Hospital]], a [[Trauma_center#Level_I|Level 1]] [[trauma center]] in [[Temple, Texas|Temple]], [[Texas]].<ref name="Temple"/> Seven more wounded victims were taken to Metroplex [[Adventist hospitals|Adventist Hospital]] in Killeen.<ref name=Temple/>
By the evening November 6, 2009, the victims included 13 casualties (12 soldiers and one army civilian employee), and 30 wounded.<ref name= "CNN"/><ref name="AP3"/> Ten of the survivors&mdash;all with gunshot wounds&mdash;were treated at [[Scott & White Memorial Hospital]], a [[Trauma_center#Level_I|Level 1]] [[trauma center]] in [[Temple, Texas|Temple]], [[Texas]].<ref name="Temple"/> Seven more wounded victims were taken to Metroplex [[Adventist hospitals|Adventist Hospital]] in Killeen.<ref name=Temple/>


===Fatalities===
===Fatalities===

Revision as of 10:17, 7 November 2009


Fort Hood shooting
LocationFort Hood, Texas, United States
DateNovember 5, 2009
ca. 1:34 p.m. (CST)
Attack type
Mass murder
Deaths13[1]
Injured30[1]

The Fort Hood shooting occurred on November 5, 2009, at Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas, the largest American military base in the world. A gunman opened fire in the Soldier Readiness Center, killing 13 people and wounding 30 others.[2]

U.S. Army psychiatrist Major Nidal Malik Hasan—the alleged gunman—was shot four times by a civilian police officer and was seriously injured. Following the incident, Hasan was hospitalized on a ventilator, under heavy guard.[3] The motives for the shooting are as yet unknown.

Shootings

Killeen, Texas, the location of the Fort Hood army post

Hasan entered his workplace, the Soldier Readiness Center — where personnel receive routine medical treatment immediately prior to and on return from deployment — at approximately 1:34 pm (CST). He is then alleged to have opened fire with two handguns: an FN Five-seven semi-automatic pistol and a .357 Magnum Smith & Wesson revolver,[4] on a crowd gathered 30 minutes before a scheduled college graduation ceremony.[5] Some witnesses to the shooting reported that Hasan shouted "Allahu Akbar!" before opening fire,[6] however, one witness reported that Hasan was silent.[7][failed verification] A medic who treated Hasan said the pockets of his combat fatigues were full of pistol magazines.[8]

Thirteen people (twelve soldiers and one civilian) were killed;[9] eleven people died at the scene, and the others later in hospital.[10][11] Thirty others were wounded before Hasan was shot at least four times by a local police officer, Sergeant Kimberly Munley, who was herself shot in the leg.[3][12] Munley is being hailed as a hero.[13]

The incident lasted for about 10 minutes.[14] Contrary to initial reports, the shooter was not killed in the incident, rather he was hospitalized in stable condition.[1] Initially, three soldiers were believed to have been involved in the shooting; two soldiers were detained but subsequently released. The Fort Hood website posted a notice that indicated that the shooting was not a drill. Immediately after the shooting, the base and surrounding areas, including a number of local schools, were locked down with military police and SWAT teams. The lockdown lasted about five hours and by 7 p.m. local time was lifted.[15] In addition, FBI agents were called in from Austin and Waco,[16] and Texas Rangers were dispatched.[17] United States President Barack Obama was briefed on the incident, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters. Obama later held a press conference about the shooting.[1]

Victims

By the evening November 6, 2009, the victims included 13 casualties (12 soldiers and one army civilian employee), and 30 wounded.[1][2] Ten of the survivors—all with gunshot wounds—were treated at Scott & White Memorial Hospital, a Level 1 trauma center in Temple, Texas.[18] Seven more wounded victims were taken to Metroplex Adventist Hospital in Killeen.[18]

Fatalities

The names so far released of those killed are[19]:

Rank Name Age Hometown
PFC Michael Pearson[20] 22 Bolingbrook, Illinois
PFC Aaron Thomas Nemelka 19 West Jordan, Utah
SPC Jason Dean Hunt 22 Tipton, Oklahoma
SGT Amy Krueger 29 Kiel, Wisconsin
Civilian Michael Grant Cahill 62 Spokane, Washington
PFC Francheska Velez[21] 21 Chicago, Illinois

Francheska Velez was three months pregnant.[19]

Casualties

Those names so far released of those wounded, but not killed, in the attack are:

  • Justin Johnson of Punta Gorda, Florida
  • George Stratton II of Post Falls, Idaho
  • Kimberly Munley
  • Nathan Hewitt of Lafayette, Indiana
  • Keara Bono of Independence, Missouri
  • Ray Saucedo, hometown unspecified
  • Spc. Grant Moxon of Lodi, Wisconsin
  • Amber Bahr of Random Lake, Wisconsin
  • Matthew Cooke, hometown unspecified
  • Staff Sgt. Joy Clark of Des Moines, Iowa
  • Pfc. Joey Foster of Ogden, Utah[19]

Suspect

Nidal Malik Hasan
Hasan in 2007
Service/branchUnited States Army
Medical Corps
Years of service1988–2009
RankMajor
Unit

Major Nidal Malik Hasan, age 39, was a U.S. Army psychiatrist at the time of the shooting. In July 2009 he had been transferred to Fort Hood from Washington's Walter Reed Medical Center.[1] He is currently the sole suspect in the shooting. Hasan had come to the attention of federal authorities at least six months before the attacks because of Internet postings he may have made discussing suicide bombings[22] and other threats.[23]

Early life and education

Hasan described himself as being of Palestinian descent.[24] His parents emigrated to the United States from al-Bireh, a city in the West Bank territory north of Jerusalem.[25][26] He was born in Arlington, Virginia[27] and raised in Virginia. He joined the army immediately after high school and served 8 years as enlisted soldier while attending college. Hasan graduated from Virginia Tech with a bachelor's degree in biochemistry and went on to medical school at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences.[28] After earning his medical degree (M.D.) in 2001, he completed his residency in psychiatry at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.[29] In 2009, he completed a fellowship in Disaster and Preventive Psychiatry at the Center for Traumatic Stress.[30]

Recent events

Hasan was promoted from Captain to Major in May 2009.[30][31] Before being transferred to Fort Hood in July 2009, Hasan had received a poor performance evaluation.[23] While an intern at Walter Reed, Hasan received counseling and extra supervision.[32]

According to Hasan's aunt, Noel Hasan of Falls Church, Virginia, he had sought for several years to receive a discharge, due to harassment relating to his Islamic faith.[33] An army spokesman could not confirm the aunt's statement,[34] and the deputy director of American Muslim Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs released a statement calling the report "inconsistent" with their records.[35]

Hasan had come to the attention of federal authorities at least six months before the attacks because of internet postings he may have made discussing suicide bombings[22] and other threats. However, it remains unclear whether he was the author of the posts, and no official investigation was opened.[23]

According to retired Colonel Terry Lee, "He said maybe Muslims should stand up and fight against the aggressor. At first we thought he meant help the armed forces, but apparently that wasn't the case. Other times he would make comments we shouldn't be in the war in the first place."[36]

Hasan was about to be deployed, to Afghanistan, contrary to earlier reports that he was to go to Iraq[37] on November 28. According to Jeff Sadoski, spokesperson of U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, "Hasan was upset about his deployment".[38] Hasan's cousin, Nader Hasan, a lawyer in Virginia, said that Nidal Hasan turned against the wars after hearing the stories of those who came back from Afghanistan and Iraq.[39] Noel Hamad said, however, that the family did not know he was being sent to Afghanistan. "He didn't tell us he was going to deploy," she said.[40]

Faizul Khan, the former imam of a mosque in Silver Spring, Maryland, where Hasan prayed several times a week, said he was "a reserved guy with a nice personality. We discussed religious matters. He was a fairly devout Muslim."[24]

According to his cousin, Nidal Hasan was a practicing Muslim who had become more devout after the deaths of his parents in 1998 and 2001.[26] However, his cousin does not recall him ever expressing any radical or anti-American views.[26] The cousin claimed that Hasan had been harassed by his army colleagues because of his Middle Eastern ethnicity. Said the cousin, "He was dealing with some harassment from his military colleagues. I don’t think he’s ever been disenchanted with the military. It was the harassment. He hired a military attorney to try to have the issue resolved, pay back the government, to get out of the military. He was at the end of trying everything."[41]

A convenience store security video reportedly showed Hasan wearing a salwar kameez. The garment is a traditional South Asian outfit worn in Afghanistan and Pakistan, but not in Jordan or Palestine where Hasan had ancestral ties.[42][43] Additionally, the morning of the shooting Hasan gave away furniture from his home, saying he was going to be deployed on Friday. He also was handing out copies of the Quran.[44]

According to some sources, Hasan is single with no children.[45][46] However, David Cook, a former neighbor, said two sons were living with Hasan around 1997 and they attended local schools. Cook said of him, "As far as I know, he was a single father. I never saw a wife."[24] According to military records, Hasan was unmarried.[47]

Hassan was placed under guard in Brooke Army Medical Center's intensive care unit and his condition was described as "stable".[48]

Response

In the hours immediately after the shooting, other American military bases stepped up their security measures.[49][50][51]

Lieutenant General Robert W. Cone, commander of III Corps at Fort Hood, called the attack "a terrible tragedy, stunning", saying the base community was "absolutely devastated."[52] A spokesman for the Defense Department called the shooting an "isolated and tragic case"[53] and Defense Secretary Robert Gates said, "I can pledge that the Department of Defense will do everything in its power to help the Fort Hood community get through these difficult times."[54] The chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Carl Levin, said "Our hearts go out to the families of the brave Americans who lost their lives in today's senseless violence at Fort Hood, Texas, and to those who were injured."[54] The Council on American-Islamic Relations condemned the shooting, expressing prayers for the victims and condolences for their families.[55][56]

President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, and former President George W. Bush (who also once served as governor of Texas) all issued statements of support and sympathy for the victims, as did other prominent American politicians. Obama described the incident as "tragic" and "a horrific outburst of violence" while noting that it was "difficult enough when we lose these brave men and women abroad, but it is horrifying that they should come under fire at an army base on U.S. soil."[1] His statement was preceded by one from Vice-President Joe Biden who said "Jill and I join the President and Michelle in expressing our sympathies to the families of the brave soldiers who fell today. We are all praying for those who were wounded and hoping for their full and speedy recovery."[57] Former President Bush said he "was saddened to learn of the tragic incident at Fort Hood. Laura and I are keeping the victims and their families in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time."[58] Texas Senators Kay Bailey Hutchison and John Cornyn each issued messages expressing their shock and sympathy at the shooting.[16][59]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Neighbors: Alleged Fort Hood gunman emptied apartment". Fort Hood, Texas: CNN. November 6, 2009. Retrieved November 6, 2009.
  2. ^ a b "Lawmakers' briefing causes confusion on wounded". Associated Press. 6 November 2009.
  3. ^ a b Carlton, Jeff. "Ft. Hood suspect reportedly shouted `Allahu Akbar'". Retrieved 2009-11-06.
  4. ^ Cuomo, Chris; Friedman, Emily; Netter, Sarah; Esposito, Richard (November 6, 2009). "Alleged Fort Hood Shooter Nidal Malik Hasan Was 'Calm,' Methodical During Massacre". ABC News. Retrieved 2009-11-06.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ Gearan, Anne (November 5, 2009). "Army: At least 1 Hood shooter in custody". Military Times. Retrieved November 5, 2009. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  6. ^ "Ft. Hood suspect reportedly shouted `Allahu Akbar'". Associated Press. 6 November 2009. Retrieved November 6,2009. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  7. ^ Drum, Kevin (2009-11-06). "Letter From Fort Hood". Mother Jones. Retrieved 2009-11-07.
  8. ^ "Wall Street Journal".
  9. ^ Baltimore, Chris (November 5, 2009). "Gunman kills 11 in shooting rampage at Fort Hood army base". Houston, Texas: Reuters via Yahoo!. Retrieved November 6, 2009.
  10. ^ "Gunman kills 12, wounds 31 at Fort Hood". Washington, D.C.: MSNBC. November 5, 2009. Retrieved November 6, 2009.
  11. ^ Sharon Jayson and Dan Reed (November 6, 2009). "'Horrific' rampage stuns Army's Fort Hood". USA TODAY.
  12. ^ Gardner, David; and Liz Hamilton. "Fort Hood shootings". Retrieved 2009-11-06. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |source= ignored (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  13. ^ "'Tough woman' cop hailed Fort Hood hero". Fort Hood, Texas: CNN. November 6, 2009. Retrieved November 6, 2009.
  14. ^ Powers, Ashley (November 6,2009). "Tales of terror and heroism emerge from Ft. Hood". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2009-11-06. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  15. ^ "Officials: Fort Hood no longer on lockdown; suspect identified". Statesman.com. Cox Enterprises. November 5, 2009. Retrieved November 6, 2009.
  16. ^ a b "Twelve shot dead at US army base". BBC News. November 5, 2009. Retrieved November 5, 2009.
  17. ^ "Perry sends Rangers to help secure Fort Hood". AP Texas News. Houston Chronicle. November 5, 2009. Retrieved November 5, 2009.
  18. ^ a b "Local hospitals treating victims". Statesman.com. Cox Enterprises. November 5, 2009. Retrieved November 5, 2009.
  19. ^ a b c html Fort Hood victims: Sons, a daughter, mother-to-be, CNN, November 6, 2009 8:57 p.m. EST, retrieved November 6, 2009
  20. ^ "Bolingbrook Soldier Among 13 Killed At Fort Hood". Chicago, Illinois: CBS Chicago. 2009-11-06. Retrieved 2009-11-06.
  21. ^ "Army families mourn bright lives cut short". chicagotribune.com. 2009-11-07. Retrieved 2009-11-07. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  22. ^ a b "NidalHasan". 20 May 2009. Retrieved 5 November 2009.
  23. ^ a b c Lara Jakes (November 5, 2009). "Authorities had concerns about suspect". Associated Press.
  24. ^ a b c "A Helper With Worries of His Own", Wall Street Journal, November 6, 2009; retrieved November 6, 2009.
  25. ^ Friedman, Emily; Esposito, Richard; Nelson, Ethan; Adib, Desiree; Kannampilly, Ammu (November 6, 2009). "Army Doctor Nidal Malik Hasan Allegedly Kills 13 at Fort Hood". ABC News. Retrieved 2009-11-06.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  26. ^ a b c James Dao (5 November 2009). "Gunman 'Mortified' About Deployment to War". NY Times.
  27. ^ "Hood shooting suspect was set to deploy". Military Times. November 5, 2009. Retrieved November 6, 2009. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  28. ^ BRETT J. BLACKLEDGE (6 November 2009). "Details emerge about Fort Hood suspect's history". Associated Press.
  29. ^ "License for Nidal Malik Hasan, MD". Virginia Board of Education. Retrieved November 5, 2009.
  30. ^ a b "Twelve Soldiers Killed". ABC. November 5, 2009. Retrieved November 5, 2009.
  31. ^ "Army releases May officer promotions". Military Times. April 22, 2009. Retrieved November 5,2009. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  32. ^ GEARAN, ANNE (2009-11-06). "Army: Shooting suspect was bound for Afghanistan". Yahoo! News; AP. Retrieved 2009-11-06.
  33. ^ BLACKLEDGE, BRETT J. (2009-11-06). "Who is Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan?". Chicago, Illinois: My Fox News Chicago. Retrieved 2009-11-06.
  34. ^ The Washington Post (5 November 2009). "Aunt: Fort Hood shooting suspect asked for discharge". azcentral.com. Retrieved 5 November 2009.
  35. ^ "Muslim Veterans Group Says No Reports of Harassment of Islamic Soldiers". Fox News. 6 November 2009. Retrieved 6 November 2009.
  36. ^ "Fort Hood Shooter Feared Impending War Deployment". FoxNews.com. 5 November 2009. Retrieved 5 November 2009.
  37. ^ Barnes, Julian (2009-11-06). "Fort Hood victims bound for Dover Air Force Base". KFSM, LA Times. Retrieved 2009-11-06.
  38. ^ Newman, Maria (November 5, 2009). "12 Dead, 31 Wounded in Base Shootings". The New York Times. Retrieved November 5, 2009. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  39. ^ "Sources Identify Major as Gunman in Deadly Shooting Rampage at Fort Hood". FoxNews.com. November 5, 2009. Retrieved November 6, 2009.
  40. ^ "Military: Fort Hood suspect is alive". USA Today. November 5, 2009. Retrieved November 6, 2009. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  41. ^ "Fort Hood has enough victims already". guardian.co.uk. 6 November 2009. Retrieved 6 November 2009.
  42. ^ "Store's Video May Show Ft. Hood Suspect". CBS News. 6 November 2009. Retrieved 6 November 2009.
  43. ^ "Answers Sought in Ft. Hood Shooter Rampage". WKRG. 6 November 2009. Retrieved 6 November 2009.
  44. ^ "Who is Maj. Milik Hasan?". KXXV. 6 November 2009. Retrieved 6 November 2009.
  45. ^ "Twelve dead, 31 wounded in Fort Hood shootings". Stars and Stripes. November 5, 2009. Retrieved November 5, 2009. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  46. ^ "Major named as Fort Hood shooter". Military Times. November 5, 2009. Retrieved November 6, 2009. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  47. ^ Suspect Was to Be Sent to Afghanistan The New York Times, November 6, 2009, By Robert D. Mcfadden, retrieved November 6, 2009.
  48. ^ "Hospital: Fort Hood suspect moved to San Antonio". Associated Press. Google News. 2009-11-06. Retrieved 2009-11-06. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  49. ^ myFOX New York (5 November 2009). "Local Forts Increase Security". myfoxny.com. Retrieved 5 November 2009.
  50. ^ ABC 4 News (5 November 2009). "Fort Hood shootings: Utah families on base". abc4.com. Retrieved 5 November 2009.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  51. ^ The Daily Record (5 November 2009). "Picatinny increases security after Fort Hood shooting". dailyrecord.com. Retrieved 5 November 2009.
  52. ^ "Fort Hood shootings". Huffington Post. November 5, 2009. Retrieved November 5, 2009.
  53. ^ "Military calls Fort Hood shooting 'isolated' case". MSNBC. November 5, 2009. Retrieved November 5, 2009.
  54. ^ a b Leinwand, Donna (November 5, 2009). "Army: 12 dead in attacks at Fort Hood, Texas". USA Today. Retrieved November 6, 2009. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  55. ^ "Muslim group condemns Hood shootings". Washington, D.C.: Military Times, from Associated Press. 2009-11-05. Retrieved 2009-11-06.
  56. ^ "Fort Hood shooting: Muslim groups fear backlash". Telegraph. 2009-11-06.
  57. ^ "Staff" (November 5, 2009). "Biden reacts to Hood attack". politico.com. Retrieved November 6, 2009.
  58. ^ "Sen. Cornyn: Don't jump to conclusions over Fort Hood shootings". Fort Hood, Texas: CNN. November 5, 2009. Retrieved November 5, 2009.
  59. ^ "Sen. Cornyn Statement On Fort Hood Tragedy". November 6, 2009. Retrieved November 6, 2009.
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