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Saturday
March 20, 2010 Since 1922 |
Local veterans stunned by Fort Hood shootings
By Travers La Ville
Correspondent Published November 6, 2009 Tragedy struck a Texas military base Thursday, leaving a trail of unanswered questions and veterans in the Baytown community shocked.
A military mental health doctor facing deployment overseas opened fire at the Fort Hood Army post in Killeen on Thursday, setting off on a rampage that killed 12 people and left 31 wounded, Army officials said.
The shooting suspect was identified as US Army Maj. Malik Nadal Hasan by a law enforcement official. Authorities said immediately after the shootings that they had killed the suspected shooter, but later in the evening they recanted and said that he was alive and in stable condition at a hospital, watched by a guard.
"His death is not imminent," said Lt. Gen. Bob Cone at Fort Hood. He offered little explanation for the mistake, other than to say there was confusion at the hospital.
The violence was believed to be the worst mass shooting in history at a U.S. military base.
The shooting began around 1:30 p.m., when shots were fired at the base's Soldier Readiness Center, where soldiers who are about to be deployed or who are returning undergo medical screening, Cone said.
It was unclear what the motive was, though it appeared he was upset about a scheduled deployment. U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison said the Army major was about to deploy overseas, though it was unclear if he was headed to Iraq or Afghanistan and when he was scheduled to leave. Hutchison said she was told about the upcoming deployment by generals based at Fort Hood.
Locally, veterans gave short but poignant reactions to the news.
“Our prayers go out to their families,” said Jay Sanders, post commander for the Baytown Veterans of Foreign Wars chapter. “This was a terrible event.”
With Veterans Day just around the corner, Sanders expressed great concern.
“This was an awful thing to happen right before Veterans Day,” Sanders said. “It was terrible, period.”
“This was an unfortunate tragedy,” said City councilman and former Senior Airman in the United States Air Force Brandon Capetillo. “I feel for any family members of the victims and any Fort Hood military staff.”
An officer at the Baytown National Guard Armory declined to comment, deferring questions to the Guards Public Information Officer who also declined to comment.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Correspondent Published November 6, 2009 Tragedy struck a Texas military base Thursday, leaving a trail of unanswered questions and veterans in the Baytown community shocked.
A military mental health doctor facing deployment overseas opened fire at the Fort Hood Army post in Killeen on Thursday, setting off on a rampage that killed 12 people and left 31 wounded, Army officials said.
The shooting suspect was identified as US Army Maj. Malik Nadal Hasan by a law enforcement official. Authorities said immediately after the shootings that they had killed the suspected shooter, but later in the evening they recanted and said that he was alive and in stable condition at a hospital, watched by a guard.
"His death is not imminent," said Lt. Gen. Bob Cone at Fort Hood. He offered little explanation for the mistake, other than to say there was confusion at the hospital.
The violence was believed to be the worst mass shooting in history at a U.S. military base.
The shooting began around 1:30 p.m., when shots were fired at the base's Soldier Readiness Center, where soldiers who are about to be deployed or who are returning undergo medical screening, Cone said.
It was unclear what the motive was, though it appeared he was upset about a scheduled deployment. U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison said the Army major was about to deploy overseas, though it was unclear if he was headed to Iraq or Afghanistan and when he was scheduled to leave. Hutchison said she was told about the upcoming deployment by generals based at Fort Hood.
Locally, veterans gave short but poignant reactions to the news.
“Our prayers go out to their families,” said Jay Sanders, post commander for the Baytown Veterans of Foreign Wars chapter. “This was a terrible event.”
With Veterans Day just around the corner, Sanders expressed great concern.
“This was an awful thing to happen right before Veterans Day,” Sanders said. “It was terrible, period.”
“This was an unfortunate tragedy,” said City councilman and former Senior Airman in the United States Air Force Brandon Capetillo. “I feel for any family members of the victims and any Fort Hood military staff.”
An officer at the Baytown National Guard Armory declined to comment, deferring questions to the Guards Public Information Officer who also declined to comment.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.