WASHINGTON (AP) — The Army says seven people were killed and 20 wounded in a pair of shootings at the Fort Hood Army base in Texas. An Army spokesman at the Pentagon says the shootings began about 1:30 p.m. Thursday at a personnel and medical processing center at Fort Hood.
The spokesman, Lieutenant Colonel Nathan Banks, says two shooters were apparently involved. There is no word yet on who they were, nor on identities of the dead.
Banks says the second incident took place at a theater on the sprawling base.
He says it is too soon to tell whether there is any link to battle stress or repeated deployments. The Army is suffering a record high suicide rate and other signs of stress from fighting two wars.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.
FORT HOOD, Texas (AP) – The U.S. Army has closed its massive Army base at Fort Hood, Texas, amid reports that several people have been shot and killed at the post.
The Web site of the base in central Texas has posted an alert that says, “Effective immediately Fort Hood is closed.” The Web site said that units at the base have been ordered to account for all personnel.
The site says, “This is not a Drill. It is an Emergency Situation.”
Several television stations in Texas say several people were both killed and wounded in the shooting. Officials at the base and in the nearby town of Killeen, Texas, have not confirmed those accounts.
Fort Hood is located halfway between Austin and Waco.
© 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
