Army

Lieutenant General Robert W. Cone of Fort Hood just confirmed that at 1:30 PM Central time today one shooter, armed with two handguns, entered the Soldier Readiness Facility on Fort Hood and started shooting during a graduation ceremony. There are twelve confirmed dead and 31 wounded. All victims are soldiers, except for one who is a civilian police officer.

“We have a terrible, tragic situation here,” said General Cone. “Soldiers, family members and the civilians that work here are absolutely devastated.”

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The shooter has been confirmed as a soldier. He was killed by local police.

U.S. officials confirmed that the shooter is 40-year old Major Malik Nadal Hasan, a Muslim. Hasan, a mental health professional, was very agitated by his recent orders to deploy to Iraq.

Major Malik Nadal Hasan

Eyewitnesses report that upon entering the facility, Hasan began shooting his victims “execution style” with great precision.

Police have also taken two other soldiers into custody for questioning.

Fort Hood Locked down until authorities have given the all clear.

The FBI has ruled out terrorism.

Lieutenant General Cone is the Commanding General of III Corps and Fort Hood at the massive Central Texas Army post located near Killeen, TX. The General assumed command of III Corps and Fort Hood from Lt. Gen. Rick Lynch on September 22, 2009.

Lieutenant General Robert W. Cone

All wounded have been taken to Scott and White Hospital. The hospital is requesting that people donate blood.

Update 1…

Hasan was born and raised in Virginia.

Hasan was transferred in July 2009 from Walter Reed Hospital to Fort Hood. He had received a poor evaluation for his work as a psychiatrist at Walter Reed, where he had worked for six years.

Colleagues report that Hasan had frequently complained about the U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and had even suggested that Muslims should “fight against the aggressor.”

Hasan’s cousin reports that Hasan wanted out of the military and was very upset that he was going to be deployed to Iraq. Furthermore, Hasan had reportedly been harassed because of his middle eastern heritage.

Update 2…

The two soldiers that had been taken into custody for questioning have been released.

Texas Congressman John Carter reports that another person has been taken into custody for question.

Some eyewitnesses report that there was some fire from an automatic weapon.

Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison was told that Hasan targeted people that he knew.

Update 3…

Lockdown lifted at Fort Hood.

Fox reports that authorities were concerned as recently as six months ago about Hasan because he had posted on a blog that suicide bombers were equal to soldiers who dove on grenades.

Update 4…

Fort Hood shooter is not dead but wounded and in stable condition.

Single shooter is responsible for all fatalities. He opened fire on a medical waiting area and the readiness facility using a semi-automatic weapon.

Although Fort Hood is no longer on lockdown, it will increase security in the coming days.