Tragedy At Fort Hood

As a soldier myself, this event shocked and touched me deeply. The shooting occurred at the Soldier Readiness Center at Fort Hood which is where soldiers prepare to be deployed or are returning from a deployment. For those who are preparing to be deployed, most are already nervous and anxious about their uncertain future, and for those who are returning, they survived deployment in a battle zone only to be shot at where they should be most safe.

The shooter was Major Nidal Malik Hasan, an army psychiatrist who had expressed deep concerns about his impending deployment to Iraq. Maj. Hasan had even made it onto a law enforcement watch list because of comments he made on the internet equating suicide bombers to a soldier who throws himself on a grenade to protect other soldiers. Friends and colleagues have also reported hearing Maj. Hasan say that Muslims in Iraq and Afghanistan should stand up and fight the occupiers or oppressors, evidently referring to U.S. troops.

Authorities claim that the incident is not a terrorist act but many question why the FBI Anti-terrorism Taskforce is investigating the scene. According to “The Washington Times” Major Hasan shouted "Allahu Akbar!" before opening fire at the Army base. Lieutenant General Robert Cone told NBC's "Today" show on Friday that the shooter made the comment, which is Arabic for "God is great!" before the rampage Thursday that left 13 people dead and 30 wounded.

The shooting spree ended when civilian police officer Kimberly Munley shot Maj. Hasan four times, officer Munley was also shot in the exchange. Both were thought to be dead in the aftermath of the incident but were later reported to both be alive.

Federal law-enforcement agents ordered an evacuation of the apartment complex where Hasan lived in Killeen, Texas, and conducted a search of his home, said Hilary Shine, director of public information for the city. She didn't say what was found during the search. Officials said earlier that federal search warrants were being drawn up to authorize the seizure of his computer.

Before Thursday's shooting, Hasan reportedly gave away all of his furniture along with copies of the Koran to neighbors, KXXV-TV reported.

Authorities have not ruled out that Hasan was acting on behalf of some unidentified radical group, a senior U.S. official in Washington said. He would not say whether any evidence had come to light to support that theory.

Please keep the families of those who were slain and those who are still in the hospital in your prayers. Please also continue to pray for those who live at Fort Hood, that healing would cover that base and that peace would prevail over chaos and pain.