Suspect in US shooting still alive: official
- Source: Global Times
- [15:28 November 10 2009]
- Comments
A military psychiatrist suspected of fatally shooting 12 people and wounding another 31 at the US Fort Hood Army base, Texas Thursday, was still alive, the Army base commander said.
Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, 39, identified as the suspect, was supposedly shot dead by a civilian officer after Hasan opened fire at a military processing center at Fort Hood at 1:30 p.m. (19:30 GMT). But authorities said later in the evening that he was alive and in stable condition in a hospital.
"His death is not imminent," said Lt. Gen. Bob Cone at Fort Hood, who offered little explanation for the mistake but said there was confusion at the hospital.
Three other suspected soldiers initially taken into custody for interviews have since been released, Cone said.
The motive of the suspect was unclear. Reports said Hasan was going to be deployed overseas, either Iraq or Afghanistan. Hasan "was disturbed" about his upcoming deployment, Texas Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison told a local news outlet.
Hasan is an American citizen of Jordanian descent. He is a graduate of Virginia Tech and a psychiatrist licensed in Virginia who was practicing at Darnall Army Medical Center at Fort Hood. Previously, he worked at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Military documents show that Hasan was never deployed outside the US.
The base reopened Thursday night after being locked down for more than five hours.
The shooting is believed to be the worst in history at a US military base.
Fort Hood, is located near Killeen, Texas, home to the Army's 1st Cavalry Division, elements of the 4th Infantry Division, and the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, as well as the 13th Corps Support Command. Over 40,000 troops are station there.
At least 25,000 people are at Fort Hood on any given day, said an Army spokesman at the Pentagon.
