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KILLEEN, TX – NOVEMBER 5: Sgt. Fanuaee Vea (L) embraces Pvt. Savannah Green while trying to reach friends and family outside Fort Hood on November 5, 2009 in Killeen, Texas. At least one gunman killed 12 people and injured 31 in a shooting on a military base at Fort Hood this afternoon. One shooter was killed by military police and at least two other soldiers are in custody. (Photo by Ben Sklar/Getty Images)

We’re reporting on this story because pacificEyeWitness has readers, military soldiers of Pacific descent, based in Fort Hood. One shooter has been named as Major Malik Nadal Hasan, army psychiatrist, a native of Virginia USA, who was about to be deployed.

Fort Hood military base is on lockdown right now.

We’re mindful and prayful of our readers in Fort Hood at this time. Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by this tragedy.

Latest Update From Temple Daily Telegram Texas

12 Killed at Fort Hood

FORT HOOD – Twelve people were killed and 31 wounded in shootings at Fort Hood, officials said.

Lt. Gen. Robert Cone, commander of III Corps, said in a press conference at 8:15 p.m. that it was believed at this time that there was a single shooter who was hospitalized and in custody.

In an afternoon press conference, Cone had said one of the shooters who was killed on site was a soldier, and two suspects detained in the shootings were soldiers.

A press release from Fort Hood officials said the shooter reportedly used two handguns in the attack.

Department of Emergency Services officials at Fort Hood said at about 1:30 p.m. more than one shooter fired shots into the Soldiers Readiness Processing Center and Howze Theater on Fort Hood.

At the afternoon press conference, Cone said, “A shooter entered what we call the Soldier Readiness Facility, where soldiers who are preparing to deploy go for last-minute medical checkups and dental treatment. A shooter opened fire and essentially due to the quick response of the police forces, was killed.

“At this time the numbers we are looking at are 12 dead and 31 wounded and they are dispersed among the local hospitals here in the Central Texas area.”

He said all the casualties took place in the initial incident that took place at 1:30 p.m.

The extent of injuries varies significantly, Cone said, noting great cooperation from Central Texas medical facilities.

Asked his reaction, Cone said, “It is a terrible tragedy, it is stunning. As I say, as I have gone around to the hospital here, … I have been at the scene. The soldiers and family members and many of the great civilians that work are absolutely devastated.”

Cone said right now the installation is locked down. “In many cases a lot of facilities, a lot of our families … children are locked in facilities,” he said.

President Barack Obama spoke about the incident, saying that White House officials are working with the Pentagon, the FBI and Homeland Security to get answers for questions about the attack.

He said his heart goes out to the families of the fallen and the wounded.

At 2 p.m. it was reported that Soldier’s Dome was not safe as a staging area for emergency responders who were en route.

“I was here for a 2 p.m. graduation,” retired Army Col. Greg Schannep said. “A I drove up, I heard some shots. A soldier came running past me and said ’sir there is someone shooting.’

“As he 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,” he said.

“I can tell you there are casualties,” Schannep said.

Celeste Parker, a nurse at Scott & White Hospital in Temple, takes blood from Christal Lee, also a nurse at the hospital, to fill the blood bank for victims of the Thursday shootings at Fort Hood. Hundreds of employees and Temple residents lined up to give blood when they heard about the events on the military post. Photo by Emily Toman.

“I heard three or four volleys of shots with eight to 12 shots in each volley. Initially, I thought it was a training exercise,” he said.

Some Killeen churches stayed open for anyone who wanted to pray and talk.

The Rev. Paul Moore, rector at St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church, was heading out of town when he got word of the shootings. He turned around and headed back to the church and arranged for a licensed counselor to be there for anyone who wanted to talk. Moore also opened the church for prayer.

Memorial Baptist Church in Killeen also opened doors for a prayer vigil at 7 p.m., according to the Rev. Ken Cavey.

Several Killeen churches said services would be planned when the lockdowns were lifted.

Scott & White Memorial Hospital, where some of the casualties were taken, called for donations of all blood types, but people responded in such numbers that the request for donors was later called off.

Scott & White reported receiving 10 gunshot victims from Fort Hood, all adults.

The hospital closed to the public to “focus attention on the victims and their families,” a press release said.

Concerned family should call 254-724-3652.

Metroplex Adventist Hospital in Killeen received seven of the victims from the Fort Hood shootings this afternoon. One was under distress en route to the hospital and was later pronounced dead, a press release said. Two were in surgery. Four have been stabilized. Two were transferred to Scott & White Memorial Hospital in Temple and two transferred to Seton in Round Rock.

All were military personnel, the release said.

Army Lt. Gen. Robert Cone gives a news conference after a shooting in Fort Hood on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009. (AP Photo/Austin American-Statesman, Rodolfo Gonzalez)

Temple and Belton school districts went into a “soft lockdown” Thursday following the incident at Fort Hood.

Temple students were released as close to normal time as possible, TISD spokeswoman Regina Corley said.

She said the district was asked by the Temple Police Department to go into the lockdown.

“The Temple Police Department really takes care of us,” Corley said.

Temple PD spokesman Brad Hunt said the lockdown was a precaution because of the incident.

Parents of Fort Hood students who had been on lockdown were being allowed to pick up students on base sometime after 6:30 p.m.

All Killeen ISD activities for Thursday were canceled, including the Copperas Cove-Harker Heights football game scheduled for 7 p.m. at Leo Buckley Stadium.

A Fort Hood public affairs officer said that school and day care would be open on the post Friday, which would be treated as a day of mourning.

Texas A&M-Central Texas locations were all canceled for Thursday.

Temple Fire & Rescue have sent three engines and 11 staff members to Fort Hood, according to Thomas Pechal, spokesman for Temple Fire & Rescue. The Temple SWAT team is on alert.

TDTNews.com – Temple Daily Telegram.