A senior Department of Homeland Security spokesperson has stated that the shooting that occurred Wednesday at Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas was a “soldier on soldier” incident, and that no links to terrorism have yet been suspected. The Homeland Security source added that there was “currently no (counter terrorism) nexus” and that the shooter killed himself.
The shooter has been identified as Army Specialist Ivan Lopez, who was incidentally present at the scene of the 2009 Fort Hood shooting which killed 13. Rep. John Carter, R-Texas, told Fox News’ Megyn Kelly that the “knowledge I have is he (Lopez) was a truck driver.”
Officials at the Scott & White Temple Hospital in Temple, Texas, said that the facility had received four patients from the shooting and that another two were being driven in. The conditions of those injured ranged from stable to critical, and included gunshot wounds to the abdomen, chest, neck and extremities.
An employee of the Fort Hood Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center stated that two patients were being treated in that facility, and that more were expected to arrive. A witness outside the hospital told Fox News, “It’s chaos. I see lots of ambulances coming in. There are helicopters everywhere.”
The Fort Hood Press Center has issued and alert that the facility is still on lock down, and posted to Twitter that “All personnel on post are asked to shelter in place.”
All personnel on post are asked to shelter in place.
— Fort Hood (@forthood) April 2, 2014
Fort Hood added an update on the shooting via its Facebook page:
UPDATE: Fort Hood’s Directorate of Emergency Services has an initial report that a shooter is dead but this is unconfirmed. The injured personnel are being transported to Carl R. Darnall Medical Center and other local hospitals. Numerous law enforcement agencies are in support and on the scene. The number of injured are not confirmed at this time. No further details are known at this time. There has been a shooting at Fort Hood and injuries are reported. Emergency crews are on the scene. No further details are known at this time.
Just arrived at Fort Hood. Post police are checking everyone who is coming in even before the checkpoint. pic.twitter.com/KoQAjSMQ1t
— Chris Sadeghi (@chrissadeghi) April 2, 2014
President Obama said the U.S. government is doing everything it can to make sure all personnel are secure. “We’re heartbroken that something like this might’ve happened again,” Obama said.
Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel comments on the attack:
In 2009, U.S. Army Major Nidal Hasan, a psychiatrist who had converted to radical Islam while serving in the military, killed 13 people and shot dozens more at Fort Hood. Hasan, who represented himself at a military trial, was sentenced to death in August.
Image via Wikimedia Commons