SIGNIFICANT TERRORIST EVENT REPORT (STER) US Army Fort Hood Shooting (USAFHS-5NOV2009) v1.3 5 Nov. 2009 21:34:22 EST Page 1 of 23 USAFHS-5NOV2009 v1.3 5 Nov. 2009
TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY... 3 OVERVIEW... 4 THE ATTACK... 5 CASUALTIES... 7 GUNMAN... 8 FORT HOOD ARMY POST... 11 IMAGERY: FORT HOOD ARMY POST... 12 IMAGERY: SCENE OF ATTACK, FORT HOOD... 13 IMAGERY: SCENE OF ATTACK, FORT HOOD... 14 IMAGERY: INJURED SHOOTING VICTIM, AMBER BAHR... 15 AERIAL IMAGERY: FORT HOOD ARMY POST... 16 FORT DIX ATTACK PLOT... 19 COMMENTS FROM PRESIDENT OBAMA... 20 COMMENTS FROM SECRETARY GATES... 22 COMMENTS FROM SPEAKER PELOSI... 23 Page 2 of 23 USAFHS-5NOV2009 v1.3 5 Nov. 2009
NOTE: THIS IS A DYNAMIC WORKING DOCUMENT AND SUBJECT TO CHANGE. Questions or comments can be directed to Ben Venzke at benv@intelcenter.com or bvenzke@leo.gov. The latest release can be found at http://www.intelcenter.com. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY At approximately 1330 CST on 5 Nov. 2009, a gunman, identified as US Army Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, opened fire at the Soldier Readiness Center at Fort Hood, TX. Twelve people were killed and at least 31 people were injured, including four SWAT team members. Hasan was injured and taken into custody. Two other suspects were apprehended and later released, while a new suspect was detained by authorities. All three were US military personnel. Unspecified reports stated that one gunman had been surrounded in the SRP building on base, and that another gunman had been detained or killed. After 1625 EST, a spokesperson for the base stated that the gunman that had been surrounded was in custody. Page 3 of 23 USAFHS-5NOV2009 v1.3 5 Nov. 2009
OVERVIEW At approximately 1330 CST on 5 Nov. 2009, one gunmen opened fire at deployment ceremony at Howze Theater in the Soldier Readiness Center at Fort Hood, TX. The shooter, identified as US Army Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, was injured and taken into custody. Twelve people were killed and at least 31 people were injured. Four SWAT personnel were among the injured. Two other suspected gunmen were detained. These two other suspects, released later, were all US military personnel. Security forces reportedly apprehended another suspect later on the evening of 5 Nov., who was also cleared and release. As of 2130 EST all indications from officials indicates that Hasan was acting alone. Following the shootings, SWAT teams had reportedly surrounded the SRP building on base with a suspected gunman in it as of 1550 EST. Following the attack, the base was put on lockdown. At approximately 1630 EST, there were additional reports of shots fired at a military residence at the base. There had been no further reporting on this incident other than initial reports as of 1940 EST. Page 4 of 23 USAFHS-5NOV2009 v1.3 5 Nov. 2009
THE ATTACK At approximately 1330 CST on 5 Nov. 2009, a US Army Major identified as Nidal Malik Hasan opened fire at the Howze Theater in the Soldier Readiness Center at Fort Hood, TX. A ceremony was supposed to recognized soldiers and family members who had missed commencement ceremonies due to deployments The Soldier Readiness Center is where military personnel are processed before deployment and upon return from combat. Hasan was shot multiple times by security forces during the course of the attack, and was afterwards taken into custody. Two other suspects were detained by security forces and later released. Following the incident, the base was put on lockdown. Emergency warning sirens were heard following the attack. One report stated that the gunman was reportedly holed up in the SRP building on base following the initial attack and had reportedly exchanged fire with security forces. EMS and rescue personnel from the Nolanville Fire Department responded to the incident. The attack occurred approximately 30 minutes before a graduation ceremony was to occur at the scene of the attack. At 1630 EST, there were additional reports of shots fired at a soldier residence at the base. Lt. Gen. Robert W. Cone said that the gunman used two handguns in the attack. One of the handguns was referred to as a semiautomatic pistol. Retired Army Col. Greg Schannep was reported by TDPNews.com as saying, I was here for a 2pm graduation. As I drove up, I heard some shots. A soldier came running past me and said, Sir, there is someone shooting. I heard three or four volleys of shots with eight to 12 shots in each volley. Initially, I thought it was a training exercise. As he [previously mentioned soldier] ran past me I saw blood on his back. I don't think he even knew he had been shot. He has since been treated and should be OK. FBI elements were at the scene of the attack following the incident. Page 5 of 23 USAFHS-5NOV2009 v1.3 5 Nov. 2009
Local congressman John Carter told MSNBC: "I had a man on the scene, who is my regional director and former chaplain at Fort Hood, waiting to go to a graduation ceremony when a soldier came running up to him saying, sir, don't go over there. They are somebody is shooting over there. He heard small arms and some rifle fire while he was there and that he thought they had one person that they had caught but there may be more, he didn't know. He understood there was more than one. That was all he said. Lt. Col. Lee M. Packett said, As far as the Army is considered, this was as an isolated incident. We placed the base on lockdown and we're monitoring the situation. Page 6 of 23 USAFHS-5NOV2009 v1.3 5 Nov. 2009
CASUALTIES Lt. Gen. Bob Cone stated that 12 people had been killed and 31 were injured. Four SWAT officers were among the injured. KCEN reported that one policeman was among the injured. CNN reported that all of the casualties were soldiers except for one policeman. The gunman, US Army Major Nidal Malik Hasan, was injured by security forces and taken into custody. Both the gunman and casualties were reported to have been military personnel. KTVT reported officers and/or enlisted personnel were shot Victims of the attack were taken to Metroplex Hospital in Killeen, as well as the Darnell Medical Center. TDTNews.com stated that one of the injured was a 24-year-old male with injuries to his abdomen and left arm. A 28-year-old pregnant woman was also transported to a medical facility following the attacks. Page 7 of 23 USAFHS-5NOV2009 v1.3 5 Nov. 2009
GUNMAN Primary Gunman Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan (Image Source: CSTS Website) The primary gunman was identified as US Army Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, according to Lt. Gen. Robert W. Cone. Hasan is reportedly 39 years old. He is a US citizen of Jordanian descent. Col Terry Lee, a retired officer who worked with him at Fort Hood, said about Hasan, He said Muslims should stand up and fight the aggressor and that we should not be in the war in the first place. Lee said that other officers had told him that Hasan had said, maybe people should strap bombs on themselves and go to Time Square. Hasan conducted his attack wth two sidearms, one of which was a semiautomatic pistol. Unconfirmed reports state that he was born in Virginia. He is single and has no children. Page 8 of 23 USAFHS-5NOV2009 v1.3 5 Nov. 2009
Unconfirmed reports stated that he was a convert to Islam and was reportedly from Silver Spring, Virginia. A neighbor of Hasan s in Silver Spring described him as nice and religious. He was reportedly scheduled to be deployed to Iraq and was unhappy about it. He is a doctor and is described as a Mental Health Professional. He has worked at Walter Reed Medical Center and is licensed to practice in Virginia. He apparently received a poor performance valuation while working at Walter Reed. He earned his Bachelor s degree at Virginia Tech University in biochemistry. In an interview on Fox News Channel, Hasan s cousin, Nader Hasan, stated that he had never been to Iraq but had heard stories from there. Hasan s cousin also told Fox News Channel that Hasan had been dealing with harassment from other military personnel based on his ethnicity. Hasan reportedly drew attention from authorities six months ago on account of unspecified internet postings. One posting from Hasan equated suicide bombings with a soldier diving on a grenade to save lives. He was reportedly a fellow in psychiatry at the F. Hebert School Hasan was injured by security forces during the course of the attack and taken into custody; he is in stable condition as of 0920 EST on 5 Nov but was not speaking with investigators yet, according to Lt. Gen. Bob Cone. Lt. Col. Nathan Banks stated that two shooters were apparently involved. A senior administration official stated that the attack could have been criminal in nature. Security forces initially had two additional suspected gunmen in custody. Both suspects were also military personnel. Both suspects were reportedly armed. The two suspects were later cleared and released by security forces. Security forces detained another suspect following the release of two initial suspects. One of the living suspects was reportedly arrested at a nearby golf course. Page 9 of 23 USAFHS-5NOV2009 v1.3 5 Nov. 2009
A gunman reported to still be at large at 1430 EST apparently had a high-powered sniper rifle. Page 10 of 23 USAFHS-5NOV2009 v1.3 5 Nov. 2009
FORT HOOD ARMY POST Fort Hood is located near Killeen, TX. The base is 60 miles northeast of Austin. Fort Hood is the largest active duty armored post in the US. It is the only Army post in the US housing two full armored divisions. At least 4,929 active duty officers and 45,414 enlisted personnel are located on base. In addition, there are nearly 9,000 civilian employees on base. Guards at the post are civilians and not military personnel. A graduation ceremony was scheduled to occur on the post at around 1400 CST. At least 4,929 active duty officers and 45,414 enlisted personnel are located on base. In addition, there are nearly 9,000 civilian employees on base. The base is headquarters for the 1st Cavalry Division; 4th Infantry Division's Combat Aviation Brigade; III Corps, First Army Division West; 13th Corps Support Command; 504th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade; 21st Cavalry Brigade; 4th Combat Aviation Brigade; 31st Air Defense Brigade; and 89th Military Police Brigade. Gen. Bob Scales stated that in order to access the base, Identification is checked, but people aren't always searched for weapons. Page 11 of 23 USAFHS-5NOV2009 v1.3 5 Nov. 2009
IMAGERY: FORT HOOD ARMY POST Source: US DoD Page 12 of 23 USAFHS-5NOV2009 v1.3 5 Nov. 2009
IMAGERY: SCENE OF ATTACK, FORT HOOD Source: US DoD Page 13 of 23 USAFHS-5NOV2009 v1.3 5 Nov. 2009
IMAGERY: SCENE OF ATTACK, FORT HOOD Source: US DoD Page 14 of 23 USAFHS-5NOV2009 v1.3 5 Nov. 2009
IMAGERY: INJURED SHOOTING VICTIM, AMBER BAHR Source: Family Handout Page 15 of 23 USAFHS-5NOV2009 v1.3 5 Nov. 2009
AERIAL IMAGERY: FORT HOOD ARMY POST Elevation: 865m Page 16 of 23 USAFHS-5NOV2009 v1.3 5 Nov. 2009
Elevation: 2.68km Page 17 of 23 USAFHS-5NOV2009 v1.3 5 Nov. 2009
Elevation: 17.19km Page 18 of 23 USAFHS-5NOV2009 v1.3 5 Nov. 2009
FORT DIX ATTACK PLOT Beginning on 7 May 2007, five foreign-born men were arrested and charged with conspiring to attack military facilities, including Fort Dix, and kill soldiers using assault rifles and grenades. The men were described as radical Islamists by federal officials. The men trained at a shooting range in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania. The group included immigrants from Jordan, Turkey and the former Yugoslavia. Page 19 of 23 USAFHS-5NOV2009 v1.3 5 Nov. 2009
COMMENTS FROM PRESIDENT OBAMA... But as some of you might have heard, there has been a tragic shooting at the Fort Hood Army base in Texas. We don't yet know all the details at this moment. We will share them as we get them. What we do know is that a number of American soldiers have been killed, and even more have been wounded in a horrific outburst of violence. My immediate thoughts and prayers are with the wounded and with the families of the fallen and with those who live and serve at Fort Hood. These are men and women who have made the selfless and courageous decision to risk and at times give their lives to protect the rest of us on a daily basis. It's difficult enough when we lose these brave Americans in battles overseas. It is horrifying that they should come under fire at an Army base on American soil. I've spoken to Secretary Gates and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, and I will continue to receive a constant stream of updates as new information comes in. We are working with the Pentagon, the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security, all to ensure that Fort Hood is secure and we will continue to support the community with the full resources of the federal government. In the meantime, I would ask all Americans to keep the men and women of Fort Hood in your thoughts and prayers. We will make sure that we get answers to every single question about this horrible incident, and I want all of you to know that as commander-in-chief, there's no greater honor, but also no greater responsibility for me than to make sure that the extraordinary men and women in uniform are properly cared for an that their safety and security when they are at home is provided for. Page 20 of 23 USAFHS-5NOV2009 v1.3 5 Nov. 2009
So we are going to stay on this, but I hope in the meantime that all of you recognize the scope of this tragedy and keep everybody in their thoughts and prayers. Again, thank you for your participation here today. I am confident that this is going to be resulting in terrific work between this government and your governments in the weeks, the months and years to come. Page 21 of 23 USAFHS-5NOV2009 v1.3 5 Nov. 2009
COMMENTS FROM SECRETARY GATES "I am deeply saddened by the tragic events today at Fort Hood. My thoughts and prayers are with the families of the fallen, the wounded, and all those touched by this incident. There is little we can say at this point to alleviate the pain or answer the many questions this event raises, but I can pledge that the Department of Defense will do everything in its power to help the Fort Hood community get through these difficult times." Page 22 of 23 USAFHS-5NOV2009 v1.3 5 Nov. 2009
COMMENTS FROM SPEAKER PELOSI "The shooting at Fort Hood is an unspeakable tragedy for the families, soldiers, civilians, and support staff on the base. Our brave men and women in uniform train day in and day out to preserve our security. They should never have to face the forces of violence here at home. "The entire United States Congress stands with the members of our military every day. We offer our prayers and condolences to the victims of this horrible attack and to their families." Page 23 of 23 USAFHS-5NOV2009 v1.3 5 Nov. 2009