Horrible news coming out of Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas.
A mass shooting at Ft. Hood military base in Texas has left at least 7 dead and 12 wounded, officials told Fox News.This post will be updated as more details emerge.There were two shooters in the Army base massacre in Killeen, the New York Post reported. One suspect was in custody and the other was on the loose, Fox News confirmed.
The attack apparently happened at the base's Soldier Readiness Center. 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.
Update: From CNN:
At least one person is "neutralized" in connection with the incident, and a second is "cornered," retired Army Lt. Gen. Russel Honore told CNN, citing "unofficial, unconfirmed reports" from two sources.I'm reading a little that there may be more than two shooters but nothing confirmed.
Update 2: From McClatchy:
Details of the events were sketchy, but officials said the shooting involved two men with M-16 rifles and began about 1:30 p.m. Central time at Howze Theater on the base, then moved to the sports complex, where the graduation ceremony was scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. It was not immediately clear who the ceremony was honoring.This story is now being covered everywhere, so updates here are likely to add little useful information:
For up to the minute coverage see:
Jay Tea adds: I'm gonna go out on a limb and say we likely have another tragic case of Sudden Jihadi Syndrome...
Update 3: Reports are still very fuzzy, often conflicting. CNN has the total killed at 11 plus one of the attackers. Two more people in custody, which seems to confirm the idea of (at least) three shooters. FOXNews is reporting that the FBI is saying "no terror nexus", though I am not sure exactly what nexus means in this case.
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Comments (30)
Fox and CNN are both now re... (Below threshold)1. Posted by James | November 5, 2009 4:00 PM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Fox and CNN are both now reporting a third gunmen. An aide to the local Congressman is reporting that he has heard both rifle and pistol fire. The aide is a former combat soldier who retired as a chaplain.
My guess on the multiple types of fire is the MP's returning fire with their 9mm's. Rifle fire would be unusual from soldiers on base unless it was the MP's SWAT team or maybe guards around an armoury with M4's instead of shotguns.
Does the Army arm their sentries with shotguns like the Corps?
1. Posted by James | November 5, 2009 4:00 PM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on November 5, 2009 16:00
2. Posted by Paul Hooson | November 5, 2009 4:15 PM | Score: -8 (10 votes cast)
As good as our military is, it has some very serious troubles. Our volunteer army is overextended in two wars, and many soldiers are near the emotional breaking point. Further, 75% of all young men in the U.S. are seen as unfit for military service due to criminal backgrounds, drugs, overweight, or poorly educated dropouts. Never in the nation's history have so many young men been so unfit as to not to not qualify for military service, and the 25% who do qualify as enlisted men are often emotionally drained by difficult wars against shadowy enemies. This is a real crisis here.
2. Posted by Paul Hooson | November 5, 2009 4:15 PM |
Score: -8 (10 votes cast)
Posted on November 5, 2009 16:15
3. Posted by Quisp | November 5, 2009 4:18 PM | Score: -5 (7 votes cast)
Obama planned this just so it gets the anti-marxist movement off the front page
3. Posted by Quisp | November 5, 2009 4:18 PM |
Score: -5 (7 votes cast)
Posted on November 5, 2009 16:18
4. Posted by Matt | November 5, 2009 4:21 PM | Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
Generally speaking, with the exception of on-duty MP's, soldiers on Army Forts are unarmed. Armories, or arms-rooms are protected by locks and alarms not armed guards. Ammo Supply Points have some armed guards (normally contractors), but those are normally not close to the main installation.
It is illegal to be in possesion of privately owned firearms on military installations unless hunting, on a target range, or those retained in gov. quarters.
4. Posted by Matt | November 5, 2009 4:21 PM |
Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
Posted on November 5, 2009 16:21
5. Posted by Mac Lorry | November 5, 2009 4:27 PM | Score: 1 (3 votes cast)
Liberals on capital hill are responding with calls to ban guns from military bases, particularly assault weapons :-)
5. Posted by Mac Lorry | November 5, 2009 4:27 PM |
Score: 1 (3 votes cast)
Posted on November 5, 2009 16:27
6. Posted by James H | November 5, 2009 4:36 PM | Score: -1 (3 votes cast)
Jay Tea -- I wouldn't be so glib or hasty if I were you. At this point, we don't know who did it.
6. Posted by James H | November 5, 2009 4:36 PM |
Score: -1 (3 votes cast)
Posted on November 5, 2009 16:36
7. Posted by Jorge Arbusto | November 5, 2009 4:36 PM | Score: -5 (7 votes cast)
Pay em off and they will quit shooting - - it worked in Iraq.
7. Posted by Jorge Arbusto | November 5, 2009 4:36 PM |
Score: -5 (7 votes cast)
Posted on November 5, 2009 16:36
8. Posted by Jorge Arbusto | November 5, 2009 4:38 PM | Score: -6 (10 votes cast)
At this point, we don't know who did it.
Look, who cares lets start another war in a foreign country and bomb em back to the stone age see?
8. Posted by Jorge Arbusto | November 5, 2009 4:38 PM |
Score: -6 (10 votes cast)
Posted on November 5, 2009 16:38
9. Posted by Flu-Bird | November 5, 2009 4:39 PM | Score: 0 (4 votes cast)
Liberals will blame the guns blame the U.S. Supreaum court and blame the NRA as stupid liberal idiots always do
9. Posted by Flu-Bird | November 5, 2009 4:39 PM |
Score: 0 (4 votes cast)
Posted on November 5, 2009 16:39
10. Posted by Jorge Arbusto | November 5, 2009 4:44 PM | Score: -3 (7 votes cast)
Liberals will blame the guns blame the U.S. Supreaum court and blame the NRA as stupid liberal idiots always do
Look, if the supreaum kort woulnt have put me in office we wouldnt have had 911 two wars a bailout for wall street of 13 trillion and no bid contracts for Dicky boy and a deep recession. See, stoopid libruls.
10. Posted by Jorge Arbusto | November 5, 2009 4:44 PM |
Score: -3 (7 votes cast)
Posted on November 5, 2009 16:44
11. Posted by Jay Tea | November 5, 2009 4:44 PM | Score: 3 (5 votes cast)
James, I appreciate the cautioning, but if I've said it and I'll stand by it, right or wrong.
Unlike other bloggers I could mention, I don't try to hide or bury or delete my statements. If I'm wrong, I'll admit it at least as publicly as I said it first.
Two coordinated shootings in separate parts of the base...
J.
11. Posted by Jay Tea | November 5, 2009 4:44 PM |
Score: 3 (5 votes cast)
Posted on November 5, 2009 16:44
12. Posted by Steve Green | November 5, 2009 4:44 PM | Score: -5 (9 votes cast)
"Look, who cares lets start another war in a foreign country and bomb em back to the stone age see?"
Seriously. Even though there is no evidence at this stage that the killings were done by muslim jihadists of any sort let's not waste any time exposing our hatred for muslims.
12. Posted by Steve Green | November 5, 2009 4:44 PM |
Score: -5 (9 votes cast)
Posted on November 5, 2009 16:44
13. Posted by Jorge Arbusto | November 5, 2009 4:46 PM | Score: -7 (9 votes cast)
Look, we know it wasnt libruls cause they, see, would been running around with peace signs and smoking pot, look, having sex or something disgusting like that Prejean nasty sex tape I watched.
13. Posted by Jorge Arbusto | November 5, 2009 4:46 PM |
Score: -7 (9 votes cast)
Posted on November 5, 2009 16:46
14. Posted by James H | November 5, 2009 4:47 PM | Score: 3 (7 votes cast)
Jorge:
Shut the hell up. We don't know anything yet, and cracking wise about Iraq is just poor taste.
14. Posted by James H | November 5, 2009 4:47 PM |
Score: 3 (7 votes cast)
Posted on November 5, 2009 16:47
15. Posted by Jeff Blogworthy | November 5, 2009 4:53 PM | Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
A military briefing just said that the shooters are indeed soldiers. Unbelievable.
15. Posted by Jeff Blogworthy | November 5, 2009 4:53 PM |
Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
Posted on November 5, 2009 16:53
16. Posted by Jorge Arbusto | November 5, 2009 4:55 PM | Score: -4 (6 votes cast)
Shut the hell up. We don't know anything yet, and cracking wise about Iraq is just poor taste.
Look, what about, see, another patriot act then or some warrantless wiretaps sneak and peek or something rights removal stuff?
16. Posted by Jorge Arbusto | November 5, 2009 4:55 PM |
Score: -4 (6 votes cast)
Posted on November 5, 2009 16:55
17. Posted by James H | November 5, 2009 4:59 PM | Score: 4 (6 votes cast)
Jorge --
There is a time and a place for trenchant criticism of military or government. This is neither that time nor that place. My prior advice stands.
17. Posted by James H | November 5, 2009 4:59 PM |
Score: 4 (6 votes cast)
Posted on November 5, 2009 16:59
18. Posted by JustRuss IT1(SW) USN [reitred] | November 5, 2009 4:59 PM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
I pray these are not soldiers, but at the same time it gives me deep worry about security getting on base if that is the case.
As for the 75% comment you have to remember they have been drawing down since 2003 or so, part of the reason I am no longer in the Navy is that I couldn't keep up with more stringent physical requirements DESIGNED to draw down the force after my broken leg. It is not the criminal backgrounds that are keeping people out as there are easy waivers for that kind of thing (or were 10 years ago). It is more stringent entry requirements in place specifically because the idiot Rumsfeld decided we didn't need so many people.
In any even my prayers are with the people and the families of Ft Hood. I don't know whether to root for it being dreanged soldiers or terrorists of some sort sneaking onto the base. Either one is a lose-lose.
Oh and the comments about going to war over this are IDIOTIC! You stupid pieces of liberal trash this incident is nothing NOTHING like the death and destruction on 9/11/2001. To make a comparison and make FUN of it is supremely anti-american and generally in bad taste.
Then again, who ever accused Steve Green or any of the other liberal weenies here of loving America?
18. Posted by JustRuss IT1(SW) USN [reitred] | November 5, 2009 4:59 PM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on November 5, 2009 16:59
19. Posted by Jeff Blogworthy | November 5, 2009 5:00 PM | Score: 1 (3 votes cast)
I'm not one to usually advocate banning people, but this whorehay scumbag needs to be given the heave-ho.
19. Posted by Jeff Blogworthy | November 5, 2009 5:00 PM |
Score: 1 (3 votes cast)
Posted on November 5, 2009 17:00
20. Posted by matt621 | November 5, 2009 5:01 PM | Score: -1 (1 votes cast)
Obviously, more gun control legislation would have prevented this.
/snark
20. Posted by matt621 | November 5, 2009 5:01 PM |
Score: -1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on November 5, 2009 17:01
21. Posted by JustRuss IT1(SW) USN [reitred] | November 5, 2009 5:02 PM | Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
PS we don't hate Muslims you idiot, we hate JIHADIS! People who claim a holy war against us deserve our hatred. STFU
21. Posted by JustRuss IT1(SW) USN [reitred] | November 5, 2009 5:02 PM |
Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
Posted on November 5, 2009 17:02
22. Posted by Paul | November 5, 2009 5:04 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
The base just had a press conf:
12 dead including shooter... 31 wounded
Shooter was military.
at 13:30 single shooter walked into readiness center and opened fire. Shooter killed by police.
One police officer killed - civilian police office.
TWO MORE soldiers in custody. The General did not say why... They are 'suspects' but apparently from what he said they were not armed.. this seemed fuzzy.
22. Posted by Paul | November 5, 2009 5:04 PM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on November 5, 2009 17:04
23. Posted by dsc | November 5, 2009 5:05 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
latest news says gunmen were soldiers:
http://www.kxxv.com/global/story.asp?s=11451553
23. Posted by dsc | November 5, 2009 5:05 PM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on November 5, 2009 17:05
24. Posted by James H | November 5, 2009 5:07 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
If the shooters were soldiers, this is tragic on several levels. Any word of motive yet?
24. Posted by James H | November 5, 2009 5:07 PM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on November 5, 2009 17:07
25. Posted by Dan Karipides | November 5, 2009 5:08 PM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
I'm not one to police comments but that doesn't mean I won't under any circumstances.
If you want to post snarky comments on a news story where 12 people are dead and many more injured, go to a place like fark.com where such behavior is both expected and encouraged.
I'd appreciate it if future comments on this post showed some respect for victims and their soon to be grieving families.
25. Posted by Dan Karipides | November 5, 2009 5:08 PM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on November 5, 2009 17:08
26. Posted by Paul | November 5, 2009 5:09 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
BTW dumb question of the press conference after learning it was 12 dead 31 injured by two handguns:
"Did the shooter reload?"
How many handguns carry 20+ rounds each?
But beyond that who the F--- cares... Like if he reloaded that makes him a REALLY bad man.
dumbass.
BTW guy giving briefing only a Col.
26. Posted by Paul | November 5, 2009 5:09 PM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on November 5, 2009 17:09
27. Posted by James H | November 5, 2009 5:14 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Can't watch briefing from where I am. Did press ask about PTSD or TBI?
27. Posted by James H | November 5, 2009 5:14 PM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on November 5, 2009 17:14
28. Posted by Duane D | November 5, 2009 5:20 PM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Malik Nadal Hasan
28. Posted by Duane D | November 5, 2009 5:20 PM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on November 5, 2009 17:20
29. Posted by James H | November 5, 2009 5:23 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Paul:
First off, recall that the average reporter doesn't know as much about guns as you do. Second, reloading question strikes me as a good one. If shooters reloaded, indicates they had extra ammo, which indicates they planned to kill a lot of people.
29. Posted by James H | November 5, 2009 5:23 PM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on November 5, 2009 17:23
30. Posted by James H | November 5, 2009 5:26 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Paul:
Also, reporters are going to write "scene" articles to go with the straight news coverage. Whether a gunman reloaded is important for reconstructing the shooting in the "scene" article.
30. Posted by James H | November 5, 2009 5:26 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on November 5, 2009 17:26