Attack On Military Base In Texas By Multiple Gunmen - 7 Dead, 20 Injured

hellblazer

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MULTIPLE GUNMEN ATTACK MILITARY POST IN FT. HOOD, TX

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DEVELOPING: A pair of mass shootings at Ft. Hood military post in Texas left at least 7 dead and 20 wounded Thursday, and one suspected gunman is on the loose, the Army said.

A massive manhunt was under way for the suspect at large, Fox News confirmed, and one person was in custody. The New York Post said that there were two shooters at the Army post massacre; other reports said there were three.

An Army spokesman at the Pentagon said the shootings began about 1:30 p.m. Thursday at a personnel and medical processing center at Ft. Hood.

Lt. Col. Nathan Banks said two shooters were apparently involved. There is no word yet on who they were, nor on the identities of the dead. The second incident took place at a theater on Ft. Hood, according to Banks. Some media reports said the number of victims remained unclear.

Banks said a motive wasn't immediately known and it is too soon to tell whether there is any link to battle stress or repeated deployments. The Army is suffering a record high suicide rate and other signs of stress from fighting two wars.

Army officials didn't know whether the victims were civilians or military personnel. The men were reportedly dressed in Army fatigues, but military officials couldn't confirm that they were Army personnel.

Texas Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison said the shooting was a terrible tragedy for all of the military families affected. She said the post is a processing center where soldiers are processed before going to Iraq or Afghanistan.

Retired Army Lt. Col. Robert Maginnis told Fox News those at the base are trained for combat and it is not unusual to see armed people there. "It could be a terror attack, it could be a disenchanted soldiers, it could be a varity of people," said Maginnis.

The base and area schools were on lockdown after the mass shooting, and all those on the Army post were asked to gather for a head count.

The FBI was going to Ft. Hood to provide assistance. There have been several previous deadly incidents at Ft. Hood, including a shooting of one soldier by another at a party in July; a rape and fatal shooting of an Army medic at her apartment near the post 11 years ago; and the murder-suicide of a lieutenant by a soldier in September 2008.

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NBC: 7 dead, 20 injured in Fort Hood shooting


SWAT teams battle at least one gunman on the military base

Seven dead, gunmen still at large at Ft. Hood

Nov. 5: Seven people have been reported dead and 20 injured at the Army's Fort Hood in Texas. One gunman is in custody and two are reported to be at large.

BREAKING NEWS

NBC News and msnbc.com
updated 3 minutes ago

At least seven people are dead and 20 wounded in a mass shooting Thursday at Fort Hood, Texas, and at least one suspect is believed to be holed up in a building and shooting at SWAT team members, NBC News and affiliate KCEN reported.

It was unknown whether the victims were all soldiers or civilians at Fort Hood, one of the largest military complexes in the world.

One gunman was reportedly in custody and another was on the loose, NBC News said. A third shooter may be involved, according to NBC News affiliate KCEN in Waco, which said the person was holed up in building 42006 on the base and had opened fire on SWAT team members. KCEN quoted a source as saying the shooter had a high-powered rifle.

KCEN reported that a policeman was among those shot.
Greg Schannep, an aide to U.S. Rep. John Carter, told the Austin American-Statesman that he was on the Army post to attend a graduation service. He said that as he neared the entrance of a building where the service was being held, a soldier with blood on his uniform ran past him and said a man was shooting.

Schannep told the newspaper that the shootings appeared to have occurred in a complex near a theater where the service was scheduled. He was with the injured soldier, who he said appeared to have been struck in the shoulder but did not have life-threatening injuries.

The shooting happened "near the soldier readiness processing center, where soldiers cycle through as they prepare to deploy," according to Sgt. Major Jamie Posten from the Fort Hood public affairs office.

He said this is where the soldiers go, up to 60 days before deployment, to begin the process of vaccinations and other preparation. That complex is on the West side of post, off Battalion Avenue.

"It's still developing. We're trying to figure out what took place on the ground," he said.

A nurse at Metroplex Hospital on Fort Hood confirms that those injured in the shooting were being taken there. She told NBC they were all military personnel. The base was reportedly on lockdown. The Killeen Independent School District said all Fort Hood schools are on lockdown.

Temple ISD is on a "soft" lockdown. Parents will be able to pick their children up at the normal times, though they may experience delays.
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FBI agents were reportedly on the way to the post.
Fort Hood is adjacent to Killeen, and 60 miles northeast of Austin. The sprawling complex is home to at least 4,929 active duty officers and 45,414 enlisted. Civilian employees total nearly 9,000.

Army spokesman Lt. Col. Lee M. Packnett said he was unaware if security measures were put in place at other military bases. “At this point I do not know,” Packnett said.

President Barack Obama was briefed on the shootings, according to spokesman Robert Gibbs.
 


And they say sniping isn't a fun profession.

What the fuck is wrong with you? This isn't some forum giggles, this is life and death. This is a tragedy.

Got all three of my TV's on news networks. Sad stuff. I have an uncle at Fort Hood and I can't get ahold of him.
 
I meant something else but now that I look back I see my comment was on poor taste. I'd edit it out but I don't want it to seem like I'm covering something out. I made a mistake. My apologies, and condolences to the families involved. Peace.
 
It's now as many as 9 dead and possibly upwards of 30 wounded.

They have cornered the second gunman, but a third still remains a possiblity. Usually these first reports are inaccurate, however.

President's been informed and suppose to be making a statement sometime soon. (for what it's worth)

Tragic.
 
Indeed. They say all victims are in military uniform, and the FBI has ruled out a terrorist attack.
 
I know a lot of people stationed at Hood. A lot of officers especially. My thoughts are with anyone who may have been affected by this.

The theater is a "soft" target. The MWR runs it for post personnell, including families and children. WTF is wrong with these guys?
 
Just reported: the suspect is a Major with an Islamic name.

I read that too. To be a Major requires a TIG (time in grade) of at least 12 years- so this guy had to have enlisted well before the September 11th attacks. Even if he is Muslim.

This sounds like it's more criminal / PTSD related. Four years of college + 12 years time-in-grade, this guy has to be in his mid-thirties with a lot of time invested into an army career. Very unusual.
 
I read that too. To be a Major requires a TIG (time in grade) of at least 12 years- so this guy had to have enlisted well before the September 11th attacks. Even if he is Muslim.

This sounds like it's more criminal / PTSD related. Four years of college + 12 years time-in-grade, this guy has to be in his mid-thirties with a lot of time invested into an army career. Very unusual.

Not sure about PTSD, I would agree that sounds right coming out of Killeen due to their activity in the wars but I was only making an observation from facts coming out of the news organizations. However, there appears to be more people than just the shooter involved in this so it sounds a little suspicious.
 
I read that too. To be a Major requires a TIG (time in grade) of at least 12 years- so this guy had to have enlisted well before the September 11th attacks. Even if he is Muslim.

This sounds like it's more criminal / PTSD related. Four years of college + 12 years time-in-grade, this guy has to be in his mid-thirties with a lot of time invested into an army career. Very unusual.

Where you guys reading this?

I'm very curious to find what turns out to be these guy's motivations.