An Iraq war veteran recently assigned to Fort Hood, Tx., opened fire in two buildings on the post yesterday, killing three soldiers and wounding 16 before he killed himself as he was confronted by a military policewoman, reports the Houston Chronicle. The motive for the rampage is not yet known. Lt. Gen. Mark Milley, Fort Hood commander, said the gunman had mental health and behavioral issues and was to undergo analysis for post-traumatic stress. He had not yet been diagnosed with PTSD.
U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX), chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, identified the shooter as Spec. Ivan Lopez. The shooting occurred near the site of a 2009 rampage by former Army psychiatrist Maj. Nidal Hasan, who killed 13 people inside a deployment center before he was shot and paralyzed by police. Hasan, a Muslim who was tried and sentenced to death, had vowed revenge on U.S. soldiers for the deaths of fellow Muslims in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Milley said there so far was no indication yesterday’s shootings were related to terrorism. But investigators are not ruling anything out. McCaul said, “My concern is Fort Hood is becoming a target for potential jihadists.” The sprawling Central Texas post was locked down for about five hours before soldiers and civilians were allowed to leave at 9 p.m.