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Shooting at Fort Hood leaves 13 dead
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It is these men and women who defend our country, protect us, and fight for the right cause. But now, the minds of these men and women are filled with worry, confusion and fear. A soldier opened fire on Thursday at the base of Fort Hood in Texas, killing 13 and injuring 31. The suspect is a fellow soldier and is identified as 39-year-old Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan. He began shooting at around 1:30 p.m. at a military processing center, where several soldiers were killed, although the exact number is not yet determined.
Numerous events were taking place on the base as the shooting occurred. Nearby, a graduation ceremony was taking place in an auditorium filled with 600 people. Soldiers who were working inside quickly closed off the doors of the auditorium.
“It’s just been crazy,” said Nicole, whose last name was not released. Her husband called her to warn her and their daughter of the violence on the base in which they lived. Nicole’s husband called her 20 minutes later, cautioning her to stay away from windows and to go upstairs.
President Obama expressed his feelings of sympathy, saying “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.”
An investigation will take place into what caused Maj. Hasan to open fire. Maj. Hasan believed he was going to be deployed soon, whether it be to Iraq or Afghanistan, and had been reconsidering his military career, especially after he was harassed a few years ago by other soldiers for being a Muslim.
This tragedy is unfortunately not the first one to occur at Fort Hood. On Sept. 8, 2008, Spc. Jody Michael Wirawan fatally shot 1st Lt. Robert Bartlett Fletcher at an apartment near Fort Hood. Spc. Wirawan then took his own life. On July 20, 2009, Spc. Ryan Richard Schlack was shot and killed by fellow soldier Spc. Armano Baca.
