11-05-2009, 11:34 PM
F<b>ort Hood mass shootings: 3 soldiers kill 11; One gunman, Major Malik Nadal Hasan, shot dead</b> l<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Three U.S. soldiers went on a chilling rampage at the sprawling Fort Hood Army Base in Texas on Thursday, killing 12 people and wounding 31, officials said.
The motive for the bloodbath was unknown.
At least one gunman opened fire with two handguns just after 2:30 p.m. at the Soldier Readiness Center, where troops prepare for deployment, the Army said.
He was shot dead by military police. Several news outlets identified him as Major Malik Nadal Hasan.
Two other suspects were in custody, said Lt. Gen. Robert Cone, the base commander.
"It's a terrible tragedy. It's stunning," he said.
President Obama called it a "horrific outburst of violence," stressing that the victims were those who volunteered to protect the nations.
"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," Obama said.
When the shooting began, emergency sirens blared across the massive base and officials warned the population of nearly 34,000 to take cover as they hunted for the gunmen.
The base - the largest military installation in the world - was locked down and the public address system crackled with calls for blood donors.
Two hours later, the hunt appeared to be wrapped up.
The carnage began inside the Soldier Readiness Center, and there were unconfirmed reports of a second shooting at a nearby theater where a graduation ceremony was scheduled.
Texas Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson said many of the victims were collecting their final deployment papers.
<b>The shooters were in military uniform, witnesses said.</b>
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
The motive for the bloodbath was unknown.
At least one gunman opened fire with two handguns just after 2:30 p.m. at the Soldier Readiness Center, where troops prepare for deployment, the Army said.
He was shot dead by military police. Several news outlets identified him as Major Malik Nadal Hasan.
Two other suspects were in custody, said Lt. Gen. Robert Cone, the base commander.
"It's a terrible tragedy. It's stunning," he said.
President Obama called it a "horrific outburst of violence," stressing that the victims were those who volunteered to protect the nations.
"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," Obama said.
When the shooting began, emergency sirens blared across the massive base and officials warned the population of nearly 34,000 to take cover as they hunted for the gunmen.
The base - the largest military installation in the world - was locked down and the public address system crackled with calls for blood donors.
Two hours later, the hunt appeared to be wrapped up.
The carnage began inside the Soldier Readiness Center, and there were unconfirmed reports of a second shooting at a nearby theater where a graduation ceremony was scheduled.
Texas Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson said many of the victims were collecting their final deployment papers.
<b>The shooters were in military uniform, witnesses said.</b>
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->