Ft. Hood Gunman Facing 13 Murder Charges

Gunman facing 13 murder charges

Military officials say the Army psychiatrist accused of killing 13 and wounding 29 in last week's shooting rampage at his military post in Texas will face 13 charges of premeditated murder under the military's legal system. The decision makes him eligible for the death penalty if convicted.
A formal announcement about the charges against Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan is expected later Thursday. Two U.S. military officials described the charges to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak about the case publicly.
The officials said it is not yet decided whether to charge Hasan with a 14th count of murder related to the death of the unborn child of a pregnant shooting victim.

Gunman fire more than 100 rounds
FORT HOOD, Texas (AP) - The military says the suspected gunman who allegedly carried out the mass shooting at Fort Hood, Texas, fired more than 100 rounds.

And at a late news conference from the Army post, Col. John Rossi said 23 people remain hospitalized from the attack, about half of them in intensive care. Thirteen people were killed. Twelve were military and one was a civilian.

The suspect, Maj. Nidal Malik Hassan (nih-DAHL' mah-LEEK' hah-SAHN'), has been transferred from a hospital near Fort Hood to an Army hospital in San Antonio. Rossi wasn't aware of Hasan's condition, but earlier reports indicated Hasan was in a coma.

Obama says don't jump to conclusions on shooting

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama says the "whole nation is grieving right now" over the mass killings at Fort Hood. He urged people not to jump to conclusions while law enforcement officials gather facts about the shootings.

The president on Friday ordered flags at the White House and other federal agencies to be flown at half-staff until Veterans Day as a tribute to those who lost their lives.

A shooter went on a rampage that left 13 people dead and injured 30 others at the sprawling Army post in Texas. Obama promised to update the nation as his administration learns more about what happened.

The suspected shooter, Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, was shot and remains hospitalized. The motive for the incident is unclear.

Family calls suspects actions deplorable

WASHINGTON (AP) - The family of the suspected Fort Hood shooter says "the actions of their cousin are despicable and deplorable."

Kim Fuller, a spokeswoman for Nidal Malik Hasan's family says relatives in Northern Virginia are reaching out to law enforcement Friday to offer insight.

Authorities have said Hasan is suspected in Thursday's mass killings at Fort Hood military base in Texas.

Hasan's family said in a statement Friday that his actions don't reflect how they were raised in the U.S. Military officials are still trying to piece together what may have pushed the 39-year-old

Army psychiatrist, trained to help soldiers in distress, to turn on his comrades.

AP Sources: Investigators seize suspect's computer

WASHINGTON AP) - Federal authorities have seized the suspected Fort Hood shooter's computer and are looking for clues that may have led to the military massacre on Thursday that left 13 people dead and 30 wounded.

A U.S. law enforcement official said that Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan's apartment in Killeen, Texas, was searched early Friday. It was not immediately known if FBI agents found anything suspicious on Hasan's computer files. A military official said investigators also are sifting through materials Hasan carried with him during
the shooting incident and evidence left in his vehicle, which was found parked at the base.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because of the ongoing investigation.

FORT HOOD, Texas (AP) - The top commander at Fort Hood is crediting a civilian police officer for stopping the shooting rampage that killed 13 people at the Texas post.

Lt. Gen. Bob Cone said Friday that Fort Hood police Sgt. Kimberly Munley and her partner responded within three minutes of reported gunfire Thursday afternoon. Cone said Munley shot the gunman four times despite being shot herself.

Officials said Munley was in stable condition.

Cone said, "It was an amazing and an aggressive performance by this police officer."

Cone also said he was inspired by a woman who helped carry a wounded victim and used her blouse as a tourniquet, then later realized she'd been shot in the hip.

The suspected gunman, Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, is hospitalized on a ventilator.

Moment of silence set Friday for Fort Hood victims

WASHINGTON (AP) - Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has declared a moment of silence for U.S. military forces worldwide as a show of respect for the Fort Hood victims.

The moment of silence is planned for 2:34 p.m. EST Friday - exactly 24 hours after the shooting in Texas. All U.S. forces worldwide are being asked to participate in the show of respect.

A spokesman says Gates has no immediate plans to travel to Fort Hood.

Army Chief of Staff George Casey and Army Secretary John McHugh arrived at the base Friday.

Army: Suspect said `Allahu Akbar!' before shooting

FORT HOOD, Texas (AP) - The base commander at Fort Hood says soldiers who witnessed a shooting rampage that left 13 people dead reported that the gunman shouted "Allahu Akbar!" before opening fire at the Texas post.

Lt. Gen. Robert Cone told NBC's "Today" show on Friday that suspected shooter, Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, made the comment, which is Arabic for "God is great!" before the rampage Thursday that also left 30 people wounded.

Military officials say they are still piecing together what may have pushed Hasan, an Army psychiatrist trained to help soldiers in distress, to turn on his comrades.

Cone says Hasan was not known to be a threat or risk.

Hasan was shot four times during the rampage. Cone says he is hospitalized in stable condition and that military officials will interrogate him as soon as possible.

Ft. Hood Gen: Gunman went on 'measured' shooting

WASHINGTON (AP) - The base commander at Fort Hood says survivors of the shooting rampage have told him that the Army psychiatrist suspected in the violence carried out his gunfire in "a very calm and measured approach."

Lt. Gen. Robert Cone said in a nationally broadcast interview Friday that authorities have not yet been able to talk to the suspect, Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, who survived and hospitalized on a ventilator.

Cone said some 300 soldiers were lined up to get shots and eye-testing at a Soldier Readiness Center when the shots rang out, killing 13 and injuring 30 others. Cone said one soldier who had been shot told him, 'I made the mistake of moving and I was shot again.' " The general said survivors told him that during the rampage, soldiers "would scramble to the ground and help each other out." Cone appeared on CBS's "The Early Show."

US Homeland chief: Texas base shooting 'horrific'

BRUSSELS (AP) - U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano has called the shooting rampage at the U.S. Army's Fort Hood base "a horrific act of violence."

She refused to divulge whether U.S. investigators considered the shootings a terrorist act.

Napolitano told reporters at the European Parliament "there is much we don't know yet" about the attack that left 13 people dead and 30 wounded in Texas.

The suspected shooter, Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, is on a ventilator and unconscious in a hospital after being shot four times during the shootings.

A soldier at Ft. Hood spoke exclusively to News Channel 7 Thursday night. Read more here.

View Larger Map

Read front pages from newspapers across the Southeast here.