Europa Newswire.
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By Lisa Daniel
WASHINGTON, Nov. 5, 2009 – U.S. Army Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan is believed to be the lone shooter of some 43 people on Fort Hood, Texas, and he survived being shot by a civilian police officer, the base commander said.
In a televised press briefing tonight, Army Lt Gen. Robert
Cone corrected earlier reports that said Hasan and the police officer,
who shot him several times, were killed. Rather, he said, both are
recovering at a nearby hospital.
All but two of the victims are soldiers, Cone said.
Cone
confirmed the identity of Hasan, reportedly a psychiatrist on the base
who was scheduled soon to deploy, but would not say more about the
suspect. Hasan has been in the company of a Criminal Investigative
Division officer since the midday shooting, he said.
In answer
to a reporter’s question, Cone said of the suspect, “I would say his
death is not imminent.” Hasan is not yet talking to investigators.
Three
other soldiers were initially detained for questioning, but later
released. After interviewing more than 100 people at the scene, Cone
said, investigators determined there was only one shooter.
While investigators haven’t ruled out terrorism in the case, Cone said, the evidence doesn’t suggest it.
The
shooting began about 1:30 Central Time at Hood’s Soldier Family
Readiness Center where Cone said soldiers from multiple units were
crowded into the center for a scheduled weekly “make up time” for
medical and dental appointments.
Casualties were high due to
the enclosed location, but would have been much worse were it not for
the training and quick reaction of the soldiers, Cone said, adding that
he was on the scene quickly after the shooting began.
“Suffice it to say…the American soldier did a great job,” he said.
From
the reports of eyewitnesses, he said, the soldiers – “many of them
combat lifesavers” -- reacted instantaneously, ripping off parts of
their own clothing to treat the wounded.
“I credit the first
responders,” he said. “God bless these soldiers and Department of Army
civilians. As horrible as this was, it could have been much worse.”
Some
600 people attending a college graduation of 138 soldiers in an
adjacent building were unharmed because first responders secured the
building, he said.
The suspect is believed to have used two
handguns in the shooting, one a semiautomatic, Cone said. And in
responding to a question, “As a matter of practice, we do not carry
weapons on Fort Hood,” he said. “This is our home.”
However, Cone said, “We will increase our security presence here in the coming days.”
The
FBI is working the investigation, along with military and other law
enforcement, he said. The base was on lockdown until 7 p.m., a base
spokesman said.
For now, Cone said, Fort Hood officials are
focused on caring for the wounded, securing the base, notifying
victims’ families and providing grief counseling. A family hotline is
available to obtain information at 254-288-7570.
Cone, who
received a call from President Barack Obama soon after the shooting,
said he was grateful for an outpouring of support. “It is truly
overwhelming the offers of support we have had from around the nation,”
the general said. “Tomorrow at Fort Hood, we return to normalcy,
schools will be open.”
The Central Texas base is the
military’s largest, covering some 340 square miles and is home to
40,000 soldiers. And, according to its Web site, is known as “The Great
Place” for its quality of life for soldiers and their families.
Source: American Forces Press Service.
