At least 7 dead, 20 wounded in Fort Hood shooting

[Kleves]

DEVELOPING: A mass shooting at Ft. Hood military post in Texas has left at least 7 dead and 20 wounded and one suspected gunman is on the loose, officials told Fox News.

A massive manhunt was under way for the suspect at large, Fox News confirmed. 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.

The attack apparently happened at Ft. Hood's Soldier Readiness Center. Army officials didn't know whether the victims were civilians or military personnel.

Other media reports said the number of victims remained unclear.

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 en route 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.

Any guesses on the shooter's motivation? Someone upset that Hood got a base named after him?

[Fate]

Siege, there are better ways to vent your anger.

[DGuller]

I think it's time to pull out from Fort Hood.

[Kleves]

One of the shooters was a Muslim army major. The death toll has climbed to 12 now.

[alfred russel]

I think it's time to pull out from Fort Hood.

There were less casualties at Chapultepec. Maybe we should move them back there.

[Savonarola]

Latest from CNN:

Officials: 11 killed, plus gunman, in Fort Hood shootingsNovember 5, 2009 5:38 p.m. EST
(CNN) -- Eleven people plus a gunman were dead and 31 wounded after the gunman opened fire Thursday on a soldier-processing center at Fort Hood, Texas, officials said.

The gunman was a soldier, and two other soldiers have been detained as suspects, Army Lt. Gen. Bob Cone said.

The slain gunman was Maj. Malik Nadal Hasan, according to a law enforcement source. The source believes he is 39 or 40 years old.

Ten of the other dead also were soldiers, while the remaining one was a civilian police officer who was working as a contractor on the base, Cone said.

Two of the injured were in "very serious" condition, Fort Hood spokesman Christopher Hogue said.

Watch developments live

More than one shooter may have been involved, Cone said.

"All the casualties took place at the initial incident, that took place at 13:30 [1:30 p.m. CT], at the soldier readiness facility," Cone said.


The primary shooter had two weapons, both handguns, he said.

"The local police response forces were there relatively quickly and killed the confirmed shooter," Cone said.

President Obama called the shootings "tragic" and "a horrific outburst of violence." He expressed his condolences for the shooting victims.

"These are men and women who have made the selfless and courageous decision to risk, and at times give, their lives to protect the rest of us on a daily basis," Obama said. "It's difficult enough when we lose these brave Americans in battles overseas. It is horrifying that they should come under fire at an Army base on American soil."

Officials at Fort Hood, which is the Army's largest U.S. post, were asking people there to stay away from windows, CNN affiliate KXXV said. The incident took place at the sports dome, now known as the soldier readiness area, the station reported.

A congressional aide said he was on the post to attend a graduation service when he saw a soldier with blood on his uniform near the building where the service was being held, the Austin American-Statesman reported.

Greg Schannep, an aide to U.S. Rep. John Carter, said the soldier ran past him and said a man was shooting. He said the soldier appeared to be injured in a shoulder, the American-Statesman reported.

FBI agents are headed to the scene to assist, said Erik Vasys, spokesman for the FBI office in San Antonio. He had no other details.

On the Fort Hood Web site, the word "closed" is posted with the statement, "Effective immediately, Fort Hood is closed. Organizations/units are instructed to execute a 100 percent accountability of all personnel."

Fort Hood, with about 40,000 troops, is home to the Army's 1st Cavalry Division and elements of the 4th Infantry Division, as well as the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment and the 13th Corps Support Command. It is located near Killeen, Texas.

At least 25,000 people are at Fort Hood on any given day, an Army spokesman at the Pentagon said.

Fort Hood is home to the Warrior Combat Stress Reset Program, which is designed to help soldiers overcome combat stress issues.

In June, Fort Hood's commander, Lt. Gen. Rick Lynch, told CNN that he was trying to ease the kind of stresses soldiers face. He has pushed for soldiers working a day schedule to return home for dinner by 6 p.m., and required his personal authorization for anyone working weekends. At the time, two soldiers stationed there had committed suicide in 2009 -- a rate well below those of other posts.

[alfred russel]

In all seriousness, it is unfortunate and hopefully all of the military languishtas and their collegues are safe.

[MadImmortalMan]

Ah here we go.

[CountDeMoney]

One of the shooters was a Muslim army major.

Could've told you that.

One gunman: PTSD.  More than one: Muslim bullshit.

[jimmy olsen]

Awful

[Kleves]

One of the shooters was a Muslim army major.

Could've told you that.

One gunman: PTSD.  More than one: Muslim bullshit.

You'd hope that they would screen out the crazies before they got to major.

[FunkMonk]

Yet another casualty list to look over to see if any of my army pals are on it. 

[alfred russel]

One of the shooters was a Muslim army major.

Could've told you that.

One gunman: PTSD.  More than one: Muslim bullshit.

You'd hope that they would screen out the crazies before they got to major.

A review of our generals through history indicates that some are getting quite a bit further.

[Darth Wagtaros]

One of the shooters was a Muslim army major.

Could've told you that.

One gunman: PTSD.  More than one: Muslim bullshit.

You'd hope that they would screen out the crazies before they got to major.

Just check out Apocalypse Now to see how that well that works.

[Caliga]

The slain gunman was identified as Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, 39, a law enforcement source told CNN. Licensed in Virginia, Hasan was a psychiatrist who previously worked at Walter Reed Army Medical Center but more recently was practicing at Darnall Army Medical Center at Fort Hood, according to professional records.

There you go.  He was a shrink so... definitely crazy.