Tulsa World: Army post shooting rampage leaves 13 dead, 30 hurt

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Army post shooting rampage leaves 13 dead, 30 hurt

Lt. Gen. Bob Cone speaks to the media during a news conference at Bernie Beck Gate in Fort Hood, Texas. The Dallas Morning News, Vernon Bryant/AP Photo

By APRIL CASTRO and DEVLIN BARRETT Associated Press Writers
Published: 11/6/2009 5:04 AM
Last Modified: 11/6/2009 8:12 AM

FORT HOOD, Texas — Military officials were starting Friday to piece together what may have pushed an Army psychiatrist trained to help soldiers in distress to turn on his comrades in a shooting rampage that killed 13 people and wounded 30 in Texas.

The suspected shooter, Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, was on a ventilator and unconscious in a hospital after being shot four times during the shootings at the Army's sprawling Fort Hood, post officials said. In the early chaos after the shootings, authorities believed they had killed him, only to discover later that he had survived.

In Washington, a senior U.S. official said authorities at Fort Hood initially thought one of the victims who had been shot and killed was the shooter. The mistake resulted in a delay of several hours in identifying Hasan as the alleged assailant.

Authorities have not ruled out that Hasan

was acting on behalf of some unidentified radical group, the official said. He would not say whether any evidence had come to light to support that theory.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss matters that were under investigation.

Officials are not ruling out the possibility that some of the casualties may have been victims of "friendly fire," that in the mayhem and confusion at the shooting scene some of the responding military officials may have shot some of the victims.

The gunfire broke out around 1:30 p.m. at the Soldier Readiness Center, where soldiers who are about to be deployed or who are returning undergo medical screening. Nearby, some soldiers were readying to head into a graduation ceremony for troops and families who had recently earned degrees.

Pastor Greg Schannep had just parked his car along the side of the theater and was about to head into the ceremony when a man in uniform approached him.

"Sir, they are opening fire over there!" the man told him. At first, he thought it was a training exercise — then heard three volleys and saw people running. As the man who warned him about the shots ran away, he could see the man's back was bloodied from a wound.

Schannep said police and medical and other emergency personnel were on the scene in an instant, telling people to get inside the theater. The post went into lockdown while a search began for a suspect and emergency workers began trying to treat the wounded. Some soldiers rushed to treat their injured colleagues by ripping their uniforms into makeshift bandages to treat their wounds.

Fort Hood Lt. Gen. Bob Cone praised the soldiers for their quick reaction.

"God bless these soldiers," Cone said. "As horrible as this was it could have been worse."

Video from the scene showed police patrolling the area with handguns and rifles, ducking behind buildings for cover. Sirens could be heard wailing while a woman's voice on a public-address system urged people to take cover. Schools on the base went into lockdown, and family members trying to find out what was happening inside found cell phone lines jammed or busy.

"I was confused and just shocked," said Spc. Jerry Richard, 27, who works at the center but was not on duty during the shooting. "Overseas you are ready for it. But here you can't even defend yourself."

The wounded were dispersed among hospitals in central Texas, Cone said. Their identities and the identities of the dead were not immediately released.

The bodies of the victims would be taken to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware for autopsies and forensic tests, said a U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss matters that were under investigation.

There will also be a ceremony at the air base to honor the dead.

Jamie and Scotty Casteel stood outside the emergency room at the hospital in Temple waiting for news of their son-in-law Matthew Cooke, who was among the injured.

"He's been shot in the abdomen and that's all we know," Jamie Casteel told The Associated Press. She said Cook, from New York state, had been home from Iraq for about a year.

Amber Bahr, 19, was shot in the stomach but was in stable condition, said her mother, Lisa Pfund of Random Lake, Wis.

"We know nothing, just that she was shot in the belly," Pfund said. She couldn't provide more details and only spoke with emergency personnel.

Ashley Saucedo told WOOD-TV in Michigan that her husband was shot in the arm, but she couldn't discuss specifics. Saucedo said she and the couple's two children weren't permitted to leave their home at Fort Hood during the shootings.

The motive for the shooting wasn't clear, but Hasan was apparently set to deploy soon, and had expressed some anger about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, said generals at Fort Hood told her that Hasan was about to deploy overseas. Retired Col. Terry Lee, who said he had worked with Hasan, told Fox News he was being sent to Afghanistan.

Lee said Hasan had hoped Obama would pull troops out of Afghanistan and Iraq and got into frequent arguments with others in the military who supported the wars.

For six years before reporting for duty at Fort Hood, in July, the 39-year-old Army major worked at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center pursuing a career in psychiatry, as an intern, a resident and, last year, a fellow in disaster and preventive psychiatry. He received his medical degree from the military's Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Md., in 2001.

But his record wasn't sterling. At Walter Reed, he received a poor performance evaluation, according to an official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the case publicly. And while he was an intern, Hasan had some "difficulties" that required counseling and extra supervision, said Dr. Thomas Grieger, who was the training director at the time.

At least six months ago, Hasan came to the attention of law enforcement officials because of Internet postings about suicide bombings and other threats, including posts that equated suicide bombers to soldiers who throw themselves on a grenade to save the lives of their comrades.

Investigators had not determined for certain whether Hasan was the author of the posting, and a formal investigation had not been opened before the shooting, said law enforcement officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to discuss the case.

The FBI, local police and other agencies searched Hasan's apartment Thursday night after evacuating the complex in Killeen, said city spokeswoman Hilary Shine. She referred questions about what was found to the FBI. The FBI in Dallas referred questions to a spokesman who was not immediately available early Friday morning.

Associated Press Writers Lara Jakes in Washington and Matt Curry in Dallas contributed to this report.

By APRIL CASTRO and DEVLIN BARRETT Associated Press Writers

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Some reader comments for this story were copied from "12 dead, 31 hurt in attacks at Fort Hood; alleged shooter still alive," which was published on 11/5/2009.

	Report Comment Proud Liberal, Weatherford (11/5/2009 7:58:51 PM) Ron B., Your statement, "There may be a few who are peace-loving, but many either are radical or sympathize with the radicals" is equally true of many on the far-right -- did you see some of the Tea Party signs today? Maybe you should worry about the log in your own eye before worrying about the splinter in someone else's eye. Fairly good advice for all of us.
	Report Comment tintulsa, Okmulgee (11/5/2009 5:09:23 PM) My sincere condolences to all the soldiers’ families. Such a tragedy especially on our own soil; Military infiltration or other reasons will be determined and dealt with. 'Borrowed Modem'; please update your profile with a more realistic picture, your statements make your pic look like Einstein. You are a sad individual, and I hope the FBI/Homeland Security cyber threat gurus are already looking at your IP. You are pathetic and Karma is fickle, and when push comes to shove, the internet is not as anonymous as you will wish it to be!
	Report Comment tintulsa, Okmulgee (11/5/2009 5:23:55 PM) Thank you Tulsa World for pulling 'Borrowed Modem' comments. You having his IP address, I hope you report it and his traitorous comments to the FBI or Homeland Security! Again, condolences to all family and friends of the soldiers involved.
	Report Comment tintulsa, Okmulgee (11/5/2009 11:50:44 PM) 'Grand Old Partier' says: Companion is an atheist. You are not only racist and sanctimonious, but a religious bigot as well, and I don't even know who the he11 Companion is? Where is your compassion and support for OUR troops who were killed and wounded at Ft. Hood, and abroad for that matter? You forgot to mention our country’s beloved loses in your post on this thread! This is a very sad day in US history’ be it some isolated nut or even worse infiltration of our military. The facts of this situation are changing by the minute, but you’ve not only shown your lack of compassion and intelligence, but disrespected our military whether you intended it or not! After reading the Washington Post article about President Obama's statement about this horror being what sounded as an afterthought in his address, and his not pushing for increased troop levels in Afghanistan after our casualty rate increase makes me second guess my vote (Obama). Iraq was a Bush mistake complete with cooked intelligence combined with his reaction of overrunning the Sunni which did nothing but create the foundation for a Shiite super power of Iraq and Iran uniting! We should have stayed on mission for Osama in Afghanistan! Obama thus far shows no sign of intelligence improvement, either strategic or personal! Different party, same result! Simply put: This is not political, religious, or racial; it’s a tragedy that was perpetrated by a psycho, or a coordinated infiltration effort which we will have to change our tactics to prevent. Call me what you want GOP, but explain why you didn’t express anything but contempt in your comment, not compassion! Have as good a night as you can sleep with. Again, my condolences to the all these soldiers, their family and friends.
	Report Comment tintulsa, Okmulgee (11/6/2009 12:32:22 AM) Thank you for the info 'mr.peabody'. It's confusing trying to interpret some posters intent when they privatize their comments, unlike you and me. I never saw the comment by 'Companion' that 'GOP' referenced, so I may owe him an apology. I guess you are on the insiders list and can see his secret posts? Can you clue me in? I'm glad he/she served their country, but have never been too much on secrets unless you have something to hide. I still think his avatar is racist especially considering the couple that rightfully busted ACORN were Caucasian! Have a good night.
	Report Comment tintulsa, Okmulgee (11/6/2009 5:03:10 AM) OK, this is only on one cup of coffee, but feel the need to respond. 1: 'parksport'; another privatized poster who says; "He gave a total black eye to every faith other then his own". What does that mean? Honestly? 2: 'FUTURE WORLD' and 'Elusive'. I think Future has you on this one Elusive. The loyalty oath taken by all soldiers and certain Gov Employees is clearly put. This guy violated his oath to the US (which includes you, me, and everyone reading this statement); YOU WILL PROTECT THIS COUNTRY AGAINST ALL THREATS, FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC. Gotta get to work now. Have fun.
	Report Comment tintulsa, Okmulgee (11/6/2009 12:56:32 PM) Grand Old Partier, Owasso (11/6/2009 11:22:09 AM) tintulsa- geeeeeeez.....simmer down or you'll bust a blood vessel in that micro-brain and then what would you have? *********************** Hmmm....trying to think.....getting hard to comprehend facts.......losing coherent thought process.....oh, I think I have it now.....I'd be you!
	Report Comment Biker Patriot, Broken Arrow (11/5/2009 6:40:27 PM) Find everyone in our military service who are muslim, take away their weapons, boot them out. Muslims are our enemy...they are not for America! They want to kill Americans!
	Report Comment Basil, Tulsa (11/6/2009 6:41:12 AM) All men were created good by God, and Muslims are no exception, but Islam is a system that can be used to dehumanize other. All men are capable of murder under the right conditions, but for some the walk to that point is shorter, based on their moral/philosophical beliefs. Some religions dehumanized others, making murder and false-justifications for doing so more acceptable. We must remain vigilant in this fight, not just against flesh and blood in Afganistan, but in the battle of ideas, so that we can overcome philosphies that teach that it's okay to murder as a means to an end and that any human is worth less than another. God didn't create any "infidels." All men are created good, although we can depart from that original condition into sin and death. "REMEMBER FORT HOOD!"
	Report Comment Basil, Tulsa (11/6/2009 6:45:18 AM) "He was a loose canon and should have been committed to a mental institution many years ago." He was a well-educated physchiatrist, with no history of violence, just stupid statements. There is no question the spin from some will be that he was just wacko, but based on quotes being reported by colleagues, he fully embraced an ideology of Islamo-fascist supremecy, which made committing this mass murder justifiable in his corrupted mind. Some overseas will no doubt be in the streets dancing at this news seeing him as a hero, but his actions are clearly evil.
	Report Comment Basil, Tulsa (11/6/2009 8:39:07 AM) Ordinary Joe, This guy had quotes falsely justifying suicide murders, was in trouble for trying to spread his false religion, and was well-educated. This battle is not against flesh and blood, but against an evil philosophical system that dehumanizes fellow humans as "infidels" and justifies murder and deceit to spread Islam.
	Report Comment Basil, Tulsa (11/6/2009 9:19:27 AM) We, and our public officials are partly to blame for this attrocity. We aren't taking the threat presented by this particular religious philosophical system seriously. Also, groups like CAIR are shaping the coversation in a way that conceals the root of the problem, trying to convince us that all the "honor killings" and domestic attacks by Muslims are just committed by some crazy bad apples, rather than springing from the core tenets of Islam. The core tenets label fellow men as "infidels" and require that Muslims force them to convert, allow themselves to be subjugated to Muslims, or die. This is a core tenet, not something only believed by radicals. They are also allowed to conceal and deceive others about Islam, to help it spread--also a core tenet taught by Mohammed. So far the percentage of Muslims in this nation doesn't allow them to force us to convert, be subjugated to them, or die, but in all Muslims nations we see this at work.
	Report Comment Basil, Tulsa (11/6/2009 9:31:00 AM) The crescent moon, as a symbol of Islam, reflects the slim shred of truth contained within it. It's a good symbol for them, if we understand it that way.
	Report Comment Basil, Tulsa (11/6/2009 10:08:19 AM) We need to stop all immigration from Islamic nations, because those who are deceived by the faith of Mohammed aren't integrating into American society very well--and if their children start to become more integrated, they are sometimes slaughtered like the girl in Arizona, Noor.
	Report Comment Basil, Tulsa (11/6/2009 10:32:45 AM) As Christians, our highest allegiance is to God, then second to our nation. The tenets of Christianity, which have shaped or culture, a fact we often take for granted, are completely supportive of the freedoms and democracy we value in America. We resist tyranny, because as Christians we believe in the individual's freedom of conscience, a right which comes from God, not any government. Not all religions teach this fundamental right--and therefore find justifications for attacking those who reject their beliefs.
	Report Comment Basil, Tulsa (11/6/2009 11:14:12 AM) Laz, Many Muslims are good people, because that is how God made every man. Those who are Muslim in their identity, due to cultural hertiage alone, are often perfectly peaceful, kind individuals, but the religion of Islam itself is anything but kind and peaceful. As long as they don't take their faith seriously, Muslims can remain good, but those who follow the path established by Mohammed more seriously always become more corrupt and their hearts and minds darkened by the false teachings in Islam. It's a dark philosophical system that brainwashes it's adherents to the point where what is good is bad, and bad is falsely justified as good. This is fundamentally a battle of ideas. We must shed light on the nature and effect of Islamic teachings, so that those who are captive to them, can be freed. God is a God of unconditional love, and does not desire the death of those who are sinful, but that they will be reunited to Him. The god of Islam, Allah, hates sinners, and justifies murder, as a means to an end. The angel who visited Mohammed, if one actually did, was a fallen demon, not a holy angel.
	Report Comment Basil, Tulsa (11/6/2009 1:51:42 PM) "It should be pointed out that the vast majority of Americans are murdered by believers in Christianity." Facts don't support this. Those who are filling our prisons, aren't what you'd call devout Christians, or ones that attend church every Sunday. Islam, when it's taken seriously, does teach a false sense of supremecy, that makes Muslims fee superior to those who reject Islam and makes it good to subjugate, and even murder, those who are considered "infidels."
	Report Comment Basil, Tulsa (11/6/2009 3:06:42 PM) Any criticism on Islam should not be construed as hate or personal attacks on those who've embraced it, any more than attacks on Pres. Obama's policies should be construed as racism. Proud Muslim likes to play victim, but he's the one who to the date still remains Muslim, despite all evidence that it is a corrupt religion that has inspired evil around the globe from its invention. We can judge ideas and philosophies, based on their effects on individuals and society. It's more hateful to let some of these brainwashing ideas fester and lead to attrocities, like this murderous rampage. The guy was yelling praises to the false god allah, as he murdered these 13 innocent people.
	Report Comment Basil, Tulsa (11/6/2009 3:11:21 PM) "Allah" is simply Arabic for "God". Yes, but the difference is found in the nature of their god, allah, who is anything, but the loving God of all creation that has been revealed to us. You have to get beyond the term "God" into how they view their god. Allah is not the true God!
	Report Comment oldrustytulsa, Tulsa (11/5/2009 8:07:27 PM) Now thats a Change a head shrink, went over the edge and off the bluff, I guess he was not playing with a full deck to begin with.And he was a Muslim.
	Report Comment oldrustytulsa, Tulsa (11/6/2009 9:17:22 PM) What the idiot president said was dont jump to conclusions, So I say we must put radical, fanatic Muslims into a interment camp, To protect Americans on American Soil.If this was just like after Pearl Harbor, when American Japs were segregated.
	Report Comment Mar, Tulsa (11/5/2009 10:07:37 PM) My condolences to the families of the victims. I hope the injured survive and get well. I read on another article that the suspect was upset because Obama had not kept his promise of bringing the troops home from Afghanistan. And also the suspect was being sent there. pdmorrow: "... I still can't believe that our President had to give a "shout out" to one of his staff members before addressing the seriousness of today's events. ..." And you can't believe...because? We have us a narcissistic president.
	Report Comment KYCane, Crestwood (11/6/2009 6:38:35 AM) How do you fight an internal ideology? I just watched CBS' Harry Smith interviewing Lt. Gen. Cone (in charge of the post at Ft Hood) and the Gen. stated that there were unconfirmed reports of the alleged gunman yelling "Allahu Akbar" as he opened fire against his comrades. Plus - surveillance video at a convenience store where the alleged gunman stopped in for breakfast each morning shows Dr. Hasan in Islamic garb. There for the grace of God go I - had it been a gunman affiliated w a Central or South American guerilla fighter - I would be a suspect just by the way I look (no matter how long I've lived in this country or how many times I've demonstrated my loyalty to the U.S.) How do you fight an internal ideology? Now I can understand why Japanese-Americans were rounded up immediately after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Internal Islamic terrorist cells could bring this country to its knees.
	Report Comment calloy, T-town (11/5/2009 4:02:52 PM) confirmed as soldier(s) by the lt. general. i can't imagine the motive for blowing away your fellow soldiers.
	Report Comment calloy, T-town (11/5/2009 5:45:51 PM) bm is a good descriptor of his output.

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