Friday, 6 November 2009
A military psychiatrist has allegedly gunned down 12 soldiers and wounded 30 others at a military processing center in Fort Hood, Texas. The shootings began Thursday in the early afternoon, and the suspected gunman is Major Nidal Malik Hasan.
Hasan was a psychiatrist practicing at Darnall Army Medical Center at Fort Hood, He was shot multiple times and taken into custody. The latest reports say that he is still alive.
Details have begun to emerge about the shooter. Hasan, 39, is a graduate of Virginia Tech and a psychiatrist licensed in Virginia. He previously worked at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. A federal official said Hasan is a U.S. citizen of Jordanian descent.
A statement was issued on Thursday by Hasan’s cousin, Nader Hasan.
He said, "We are filled with grief for the families of today's victims, Our family loves America. We are proud of our country and saddened by today's tragedy. Because this situation is still unfolding, we have nothing else that we are able to share with you at this time."
The Governor of Texas, Rick Perry, ordered that all flags be lowered to half staff until Sunday, as a tribute to the victims.
Perry stated, "We are deeply saddened by today's events but resolve to continue supporting our troops and protecting our citizens.”
President Obama remarked on the shootings calling them “tragic” and “a horrific outburst of violence.”
