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2009 Fort Hood shooting

Coordinates: 31°8′34″N 97°47′49″W / 31.14278°N 97.79694°W / 31.14278; -97.79694
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Fort Hood shooting
LocationFort Hood, Texas
DateNovember 5, 2009
ca. 1:30 p.m. (CST)
Attack type
Mass murder, spree killing
Deaths13[1]
Injured30[1]

The Fort Hood shooting was a spree killing that occurred on Thursday, November 5, 2009, at Fort Hood, a United States Army post in Texas. Major Nidal Malik Hasan, an Army psychiatrist stationed at the Killeen U.S. Army base, is alleged to have entered the Soldier Readiness Center, opening fire at approximately 1:30 p.m. (local time), and initially killing 11 people and wounding 30 others, two of whom later died in the hospital.

Hasan was then shot four times and seriously injured by a local police officer, Kimberly Munley, who was herself shot in the leg by Hasan.[2][3]

Initially, two other individuals were also detained but were later released without charge.[1] Following the shooting, Hasan was hospitalized on a ventilator,[2] under heavy guard, and authorities had not yet determined the motivation for the shooting. Soldiers who witnessed the shooting reported that Hasan shouted "Allahu Akbar!" before opening fire.[4]

Shootings

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

According to news reports, Major Hasan entered the Soldier Readiness Center – a complex used to process soldiers before and after deployment – at approximately 1:30 p.m. (CST) and opened fire with two handguns on a crowd gathered 30 minutes before a scheduled college graduation ceremony for soldiers and family members.[5] Soldiers who witnessed the shooting reported that Hasan shouted "Allahu Akbar!" before opening fire.[4] Thirteen people (eleven soldiers and two civilians) were killed;[6] eleven people died at the scene and the twelfth[7] and thirteenth[8] later in the hospital. Thirty-one others were wounded before Hasan was shot at least four times by police officers. Contrary to initial reports he was not killed in the incident, and was hospitalized in stable condition.[1]

Initially, three soldiers were believed to have been involved in the shooting; two soldiers were initially 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.[9] In addition, FBI agents were called in from Austin and Waco,[10] and Texas Rangers were dispatched.[11] United States President Barack Obama was briefed on the incident, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters. President Obama later held a press conference about the shooting.[1]

Suspect

Hasan in 2007

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]

Early life and education

Hasan described himself as being of Palestinian descent as his mother was born in Palestine.[12] His parents immigrated to the U.S. from a small Palestinian town near Jerusalem.[13] He was born in Virginia, where he grew up. He joined the army immediately after high school, and in exchange the army paid for him to go to college and subsequently to medical school.[13] Hasan graduated in 1997 from Virginia Tech, where he was a member of ROTC,[14] with a bachelor's degree in biochemistry and in 2003 from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences with a medical degree (M.D.), and later finished his residency as a psychiatrist.[15][16] In 2009, he completed a fellowship in Disaster and Preventive Psychiatry at the Center for Traumatic Stress.[17]

Recent events

Hasan was promoted from Captain to Major in May 2009.[17][18] Before being transferred to Fort Hood in July 2009, Hasan had received a poor performance evaluation.[19]

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 religion, Islam. An Army spokesman could not confirm the aunt's statement.[20]

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[21] and other threats. However, it remains unclear that he was the author of the posts, and no official investigation was opened.[19]

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."[14]

Hasan was about to be deployed, whether to Iraq or Afghanistan is unclear,[22] on November 28. According to Jeff Sadoski, spokesperson of U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, "Hasan was upset about his deployment".[16] 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.[23] Noel Hamad said, however, that the family did not know he was being sent to Iraq. "He didn't tell us he was going to deploy," she said.[24]

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."[12]

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.[13] However, his cousin does not recall him ever expressing any radical or anti-American views.[13] The cousin added 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."[25]

According to some sources, Hasan is single with no children.[26][27] However, a former neighbor of Hasan, David Cook, said two sons were living with Hasan at that time, 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."[12]

Victims

Ten of the wounded survivors of the shooting were treated at Scott & White Memorial Hospital, a Level 2 trauma center in Temple, Texas.[28] All of them had gunshot wounds.[28] Seven more were taken to Metroplex Adventist Hospital in Killeen.[28] Another wounded victim, Kimberly Munley [29] a civilian police officer working on the base, who is credited with shooting the suspect, was originally reported to have been killed.[10] At least ten of the dead were soldiers.[1] The first reported fatality is Army PFC Michael Pearson. [30]

Response

Lieutenant General Robert W. Cone, commanding officer of Fort Hood, called the attack "a terrible tragedy, stunning", saying the base community was "absolutely devastated."[31] Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Defense Department called the shooting an "isolated and tragic case."[32] 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."[33] 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"[33] and the shooting was condemned by the Council on American-Islamic Relations.[34]

Other military bases increased security in the hours after the shooting.[35][36][37]

Within minutes of the incident becoming public, President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and former president George W. Bush, issued statements of support and sympathy for the victims. Obama described the incident as "tragic" and "a horrific outburst of violence" in a press conference in Washington, D.C. going on to say, "It is 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." "My immediate thoughts and prayers are with the wounded and the families of the fallen," he said. Obama also offered his help to Cone.[1] His statement was preceded by Joe Biden who said "Jill and I join the President and Michelle Obama 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. Our thoughts and prayers are also with the entire Fort Hood community as they deal with this senseless tragedy",[38] while Bush said he "was saddened to learn of the tragic incident at Fort Hood. Laura Bush and I are keeping the victims and their families in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time."[33] Texas Senators, Kay Bailey Hutchison and John Cornyn both issued messages expressing their shock and sympathy at the shooting.[10][39]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "12 people, including one suspect were killed in shootings at Fort Hood, Pentagon says". Fort Hood, Texas: CNN. November 5, 2009. Retrieved November 5, 2009.
  2. ^ a b Carlton, Jeff. "Ft. Hood suspect reportedly shouted `Allahu Akbar'". Retrieved 2009-11-06.
  3. ^ 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)
  4. ^ a b "Ft. Hood suspect reportedly shouted `Allahu Akbar'". Associated Press. 6 November 2009. Retrieved November 6,2009. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  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. ^ 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.
  7. ^ "Gunman kills 12, wounds 31 at Fort Hood". Washington, D.C.: MSNBC. November 5, 2009. Retrieved November 6, 2009.
  8. ^ Sharon Jayson and Dan Reed (November 6, 2009). "'Horrific' rampage stuns Army's Fort Hood". USA TODAY.
  9. ^ "Officials: Fort Hood no longer on lockdown; suspect identified". Statesman.com. Cox Enterprises. November 5, 2009. Retrieved November 6, 2009.
  10. ^ a b c "Twelve shot dead at US army base". BBC News. November 5, 2009. Retrieved November 5, 2009.
  11. ^ "Perry sends Rangers to help secure Fort Hood". AP Texas News. Houston Chronicle. November 5, 2009. Retrieved November 5, 2009.
  12. ^ a b c A Helper With Worries of His Own, Wall Street Journal, November 6, 2009; retrieved November 6, 2009.
  13. ^ a b c d James Dao. "Gunman 'Mortified' About Deployment to War". NY Times.
  14. ^ a b "Fort Hood Shooter Feared Impending War Deployment". FoxNews.com. 5 November 2009. Retrieved 5 November 2009.
  15. ^ "License for Nidal Malik Hasan, MD". Virginia Board of Education. Retrieved November 5, 2009.
  16. ^ a b 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)
  17. ^ a b "Twelve Soldiers Killed". ABC. November 5, 2009. Retrieved November 5, 2009.
  18. ^ "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)
  19. ^ a b Lara Jakes (November 5, 2009). "Authorities had concerns about suspect". Associated Press.
  20. ^ The Washington Post (5 November 2009). "Aunt: Fort Hood shooting suspect asked for discharge". azcentral.com. Retrieved 5 November 2009.
  21. ^ "NidalHasan". 20 May 2009. Retrieved 5 November 2009.
  22. ^ "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)
  23. ^ "Sources Identify Major as Gunman in Deadly Shooting Rampage at Fort Hood". FoxNews.com. November 5, 2009. Retrieved November 6, 2009.
  24. ^ "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)
  25. ^ "Fort Hood has enough victims already". guardian.co.uk. 6 November 2009. Retrieved 6 November 2009.
  26. ^ "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)
  27. ^ "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)
  28. ^ a b c "Local hospitals treating victims". Statesman.com. Cox Enterprises. November 5, 2009. Retrieved November 5, 2009.
  29. ^ [1]
  30. ^ [2]
  31. ^ "Fort Hood shootings". Huffington Post. November 5, 2009. Retrieved November 5, 2009.
  32. ^ "Military calls Fort Hood shooting 'isolated' case". MSNBC. November 5, 2009. Retrieved November 5, 2009.
  33. ^ a b c 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)
  34. ^ "Muslim group condemns Hood shootings". Washington, D.C.: Military Times, from Associated Press. 2009-11-05. Retrieved 2009-11-06.
  35. ^ myFOX New York (5 November 2009). "Local Forts Increase Security". myfoxny.com. Retrieved 5 November 2009.
  36. ^ 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)
  37. ^ The Daily Record (5 November 2009). "Picatinny increases security after Fort Hood shooting". dailyrecord.com. Retrieved 5 November 2009.
  38. ^ "Staff" (November 5, 2009). "Biden reacts to Hood attack". politico.com. Retrieved November 6, 2009.
  39. ^ "Sen. Cornyn Statement On Fort Hood Tragedy". November 6, 2009. Retrieved November 6, 2009.
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