Nov. 6, 2009

Hasan Likely "Lone Wolf," Officials Say

Investigators Probe Motive for Fort Hood Massacre; Authorities Reveal Weapon Was Semi-Automatic Pistol

  • Video Military Spouse's Reaction

    Harry Smith spoke with Kerri Abbatocala, who lives at Fort Hood with her husband, about what she heard and saw during the deadly shooting.

  • Video Update on Fort Hood Survivors

    The Fort Hood shooting spree left 13 dead and dozens more injured. Hundreds of relatives crowded hospitals for information about their loved ones, Kelly Cobiella reports.

  • Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan

    Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan  (AP)

(CBS/AP)  While the investigation into the Fort Hood shooting rampage that killed 13 people is still in its early stages, indications are that it is a "lone wolf" situation, senior law enforcement officials told CBS News correspondent Bob Orr.

Authorities said 39-year-old Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan went on the shooting spree Thursday at the sprawling Texas post. He was among 30 people wounded in the rampage and remained hospitalized Friday in a coma, attached to a ventilator. All but two of the wounded were still hospitalized and a doctor warned that "everyone is not out of the woods."

An Army medical official says Hasan has been transferred to Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio. Hospital spokeswoman Maria Gallegos says Hasan is in stable condition in the intensive care unit at the hospital on Fort Sam Houston outside San Antonio, about 150 miles southwest of Fort Hood.

Meanwhile, CBS News has learned that the gun used in the attack was a FN Five-Seven, a semi-automatic pistol popular with Special Operations and SWAT teams that can be used with special armor-piercing bullets.

Investigators have located a shooting range near Fort Hood where Hasan practiced in his spare time as well as the gun store where a few weeks ago he bought the murder weapon. Records indicate Hasan bought the weapon at a store called "Guns Galore" in Killeen, Texas, well before the Fort Hood shooting. The pistol has been dubbed a "cop killer" by those who have tried to stop its use.

The most powerful type of ammunition for the gun is available only to law enforcement and military personnel.

Special Section: Tragedy at Fort Hood

The FBI was also probing Hasan's computer records Friday looking for Web sites visited, contacts and writings. Investigators are also going through his cell phone records in an effort to piece together how and why Hasan allegedly gunned down his comrades in one of the worst mass shootings ever on an American military base.

Though his motive wasn't known, some who knew Hasan said he may have been struggling with a pending deployment to Afghanistan and faced pressure in his work with distressed soldiers.

Before the shooting, neighbor Patricia Villa said Hasan had cleaned out his apartment days before the rampage and gave her some frozen broccoli, some spinach, T-shirts, shelves and a new Quran, the Muslim holy book. She said he returned on Thursday morning and gave her his air mattress, several briefcases and a desk lamp.

Hasan's family said in a statement Friday that his alleged actions were "despicable and deplorable" and don't reflect how the family was raised.

President Barack Obama ordered the flags at the White House and other federal buildings be at half-staff and urged people not to draw conclusions while authorities investigate.

"We don't know all the answers yet. And I would caution against jumping to conclusions until we have all the facts," Mr. Obama said in a statement.

A moment of silence was held Friday afternoon at Fort Hood and other U.S. military bases as a show of respect for the victims.

Army Chief of Staff George Casey described the Fort Hood shooting rampage that left 13 people dead as a "kick in the gut" while calling for Army leaders across the country to review force protection measures.

Casey spoke to reporters at a news conference Friday afternoon at Fort Hood. He says he's encouraged by the stories of heroism and courage that have emerged the day after the attack.

He cited a young private who was sitting in his pickup in parking lot and heard gunfire. Casey says the private went to the scene, pulled out four wounded and drove the hospital.

Casey said about 20 different units were affected by the shooting. Secretary of the Army John McHugh singled out the 36th Engineer Brigade as especially hard hit, with four killed and 11 wounded.

McHugh said officials have not determined whether a case would be pursued in federal or military court and that no charges have been filed yet.

The shooting spree began as some 300 soldiers had been lined up to get vaccinations and have their eyes tested at a Soldier Readiness Center, where troops who are about to be deployed or who are returning undergo medical screening. Nearby, others were lining up in commencement robes for a ceremony to celebrate soldiers and families who had recently earned degrees.

Soldiers reported that the gunman shouted "Allahu Akbar!" - Arabic for "God is great!" - before opening fire, said Lt. Gen. Robert Cone, the base commander. He said officials had not confirmed that Hasan made the comment.

More Coverage of the Tragedy at Fort Hood:

Hasan Likely "Lone Wolf," Officials Say
Hasan Reportedly Felt U.S. Attacked Islam
List of Fort Hood Dead, Wounded
Neighbor: Ft. Hood Suspect Packed Up Home
"Allahu Akbar": Hasan's Words as He Fired?
Mosques Up Security in Wake of Ft. Hood
Obama: Don't Jump to Conclusions
Hasan's Actions "Despicable," Family Says
Female Cop Hailed as Ft. Hood Hero
Store's Video May Show Ft. Hood Suspect
U.S. Army Base Violence Has Bloody History
Tragedy at Fort Hood

Officials are not ruling out the possibility that some of the casualties may have been victims of "friendly fire," shot by responding military officials.

When the gunfire subsided, soldiers described a scene that looked like a war zone: too many wounded to count, shells and blood on the floor, and comrades ripping off their clothes to make tourniquets to keep the injured alive. One woman, suffering from a wound to the hip, carried another victim to get help.

"You had people without tops on. You had people ripping their pant legs off," said Sgt. Andrew Hagerman, a military police officer from Lewisville, Texas.

Hagerman arrived at the scene minutes after the shooting stopped. When he entered the building, he kept his head down to avoid stepping in the pools of blood or kicking any spent shell casings.

"You could go around it," he said. "There was definitely a path."

The gunman was struck four times by a civilian police officer who was wounded herself. Authorities said Kimberly Munley fired on the suspect just three minutes after the gunfire erupted.

The gunman then spun around and charged at Munley with a gun in each hand, said her boss, Chuck Medley, director of emergency services at Fort Hood. He said Munley shot Hasan in the upper torso, allowing officers to take him into custody.

Munley, who was shot in the thighs and wrist, was recovering Friday at a hospital.

Hagerman said he saw Hasan laying on the ground receiving medical assistance for a gunshot wound as responders tried to get his handcuffs off to better treat him.

Hasan reported for duty at Fort Hood in July, after working at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington for six years. Though he apparently had problems at Walter Reed, Fort Hood officials said they weren't aware of any issues with his job performance.

One of Hasan's bosses praised his work ethic and said he provided excellent care for his patients.

© MMIX, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Add a Comment See all 119 Comments
by nadeemg100 November 10, 2009 5:29 AM EST
it shows that american foreign policies need rewiew
Reply to this comment
by jayrh November 7, 2009 12:12 PM EST
Most people miss the whole point about what happened. This was radical Islam! On 9/11, they declared war on us. This was no fault of our own. The Qur'an teaches these things and the basic conflict has been going on for centuries. Read the Qur'an and see for yourself what it says about non-believers. It is so violent as to be almost unbelievable. It teaches that Islam is to be the dominate religion in the world. Non-believers must either be converted by the point of sword or submit and pay taxes. We will never be equal in there eyes! The only way that the conflict will end is either we defeat them or we surrender and abandon our allies or convert to Islam.

Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of peaceful Muslims... These are people that are not religious, don't know what the Qur'an actually says, are able to ignore parts of it, etc. Sadly also, many of these are only trying to deceive you as to the true nature of Islam.

If you will ever notice, peaceful Muslims will never win an argument about religion with radical Islam... That's because radical Islam has the Qur'an on their side.

Simply put, we are at war! You should be asking yourself why we have a president that does not acknowledge this. Instead, he goes around the world apologizing. He wants to close Gitmo, selects someone as his Attorney General who has and does defend terrorists. The list goes on and on. Judging him by his liberal policies, both foreign and domestic, you get the idea that he must hate his own country. Is it possible for someone to be raised in a Muslim country and not know the true nature of Islam?

Wake up America!
Reply to this comment
by phdiva-2009 November 8, 2009 8:45 PM EST
You have no idea what you are talking about. None. You know nothing about Islam or any other religion. There is terrible violence in the bible, but that doesn't mean that I as a Christian am a violent person. This was a deeply troubled man, acting alone, but you want to use his horrible actions as an excuse to attack muslims and bash Obama. You are exploiting the deaths of those innocent people to advance your own political agenda. Shame on you. The innocent people who died in this tragedy deserve better than your Islamophobic ranting.
by nadeemg100 November 10, 2009 5:27 AM EST
it shows that american foreign policies need rewiew
by newerdeal November 7, 2009 11:42 AM EST
This is so sad.

The harm he did will go on and on.

My prayers are with the wounded and the familes, his too.
Reply to this comment
by nadeemg100 November 10, 2009 5:29 AM EST
it shows that american foreign policies need rewiew
by mrjustice1 November 7, 2009 11:08 AM EST
AMERICA MUST BEGIN ORDERLY AND CIVILIZED DEPORTATIONS OF ENEMIES WITHIN

AND JOINTLY-TITLED, RELIGION IS POISON

There's no mistake about the threats posed to America's existence - threats particularly from religious Moslem extremists. It is anti-American acts from within that particular ethnic group, that we have to fear and take very, very seriously.

Is it racist or prejudice to make mention of one ethnic or religious group's established behavior patterns, as open declarations of Jihad or holy war are orated? Not at all. No only common sense must prevail, but our national security concerns will ultimately determine America's actions for what is fast-becoming our self-preservation.

Religious extremists are not confined to Moslem extremists. We also have an ample supply of Christian and Jewish extremists. And to be FAIR to all, a term which religious extremists do not recognize, it is RELIGION and the mentality that religion creates, that is a major, major cause of world conflict.

What if enemy citizens who are born in the US either engage in or advocate acts of violence, incitement, and destruction? Increased penalties, increased prison term, as well as execution are suitable.

Yes folks, we are ceding and losing more of our rights and liberties as this item is being written. We must blame RELIGION for that, as well as EXPECT the worst from that poison.
Reply to this comment
by phdiva-2009 November 8, 2009 8:50 PM EST
First of all the shooter was an American citizen so your whole argument doesn't make sense. Where should we have sent him? America was his home for his entire life. Secondly, does this mean we are going to deport evangelical Christians who terrorize abortion clinics? What about people who assault gay people? Members of the KKK? What about racist cops?? Are we deporting these people, too? Your argument is pathetic and illogical and a violation of the first amendment. Read a book.
by nadeemg100 November 10, 2009 5:27 AM EST
it shows that american foreign policies need rewiew
by kmwaugh November 7, 2009 10:46 AM EST
Acting alone? Come on! He's got over one billion fellow muslims behind him... who should all be executed.
Reply to this comment
by nadeemg100 November 7, 2009 11:16 AM EST
yes we are muslims have youany problems
by phdiva-2009 November 8, 2009 8:52 PM EST
You are just as sick and dangerous as the shooter is. You are just as ignorant and full of hate. How is what you are suggesting any different from what he did? You and the shooter have a lot in common. Stop making Americans look bad and pretend that you have a brain.
by fss2009 November 7, 2009 9:58 AM EST
Yep...
just a few days ago, a group of whack conservatives murdered a U.S. Federal worker, but this week the same scumbags claim to be patriots.
You guys are the sickest scumbags on the planet. You make the Taliban look like good guys.
Reply to this comment
by Midwestchristian November 7, 2009 7:52 AM EST
I think some of you people are getting off topic. This is about a muslim extremist who killed our soldiers in the name of Allah and the world needs to wake up, because this will not be the only incident to occur. There are certain, extremist groups of Muslims who want Sharia Law to be worldwide. They are making their presense known in Great Britain and it's starting to happen in the US too. (so far Michigan and Ohio.)
Reply to this comment
by american_11-2009 November 7, 2009 8:13 AM EST
is pass time to classify Islam as a mental disease and Isolate all carrying the disease together to prevent the spread of the disease!
by differnet November 7, 2009 8:30 AM EST
No, it wasn't a Muslim extremist. What it was a cowardly, unbalanced man who used his religion as an excuse to go on a killing rampage. If the wars had never taken place, a few years from now this man would probably have shot a whole bunch of people because he couldn't find a wife. His Iman in Virginia couldn't find a wife for him. He's was reassigned from Walter Reed for poor performance and when he was in training, before the wars, he had to be counseled for the way he was treating patients. Other doctors at Walter Reed wondered if he would someday shoot a bunch of people. The sad, sick truth is Islam or no-Islam, this guy was a time bomb.
by sonofsummarex November 7, 2009 6:57 AM EST
There's something fishy here. The guy wasn't really acting weird since many soldiers about to leave give things away and say their goodbyes. They initially said he was dead and that the person who had shot him was dead. Then they both turned out to be alive. It means that at some point bthey thought the shooter was someone else. They arrested two people and released them. There seem to have been a lot of confusion and it's remotely possible that they may be focusing on the wriong guy. Of course thge guy hasn't said anything but he should when he wakes up. If he dies mysteriously then you can be sure there's a conspiracy.
Reply to this comment
by sonofsummarex November 7, 2009 6:58 AM EST
Oh and one more thing. Almost everyubody was dressed the same!
by erb0087 November 7, 2009 6:40 AM EST
"The fact of the matter is that no Christian practice stoning"

================================

The heck you say.

I got stoned just last weekend.

In my own living room.
Reply to this comment
by erb0087 November 7, 2009 6:28 AM EST
We had lynchings in this country not that long ago, performed by self-professed Christians.

There are people living in America today who actually witnessed them.
Reply to this comment
by phdiva-2009 November 8, 2009 8:56 PM EST
And participated in them.
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