The Associated Press reports that Hasan was an Army psychiatrist who was trained to help soldiers in distress and was slated to be deployed to the Middle East. It is not known why he turned on his comrades, but it is known that he objected to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and to fighting fellow Muslims. Although Hasan was shot four times during the rampage, he is still alive. As of Friday morning, Hasan was in stable condition in an area hospital, although he was on a ventilator and unconscious.
Even though Fort Hood Lt. Gen. Bob Cone said Hasan was not known to be a threat or risk, law enforcement officials say that at least six months ago, it came to their attention that his name was linked to Internet postings about suicide bombings and other threats. The posts equated suicide bombers to soldiers who throw themselves on a grenade to save the lives of their comrades. It has not been determined yet if Hasan was the author of the posting. A formal investigation had not been opened before the shooting, according to law enforcement officials who spoke to AP on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to discuss the case.
When the shooting broke out, police and medical and other emergency personnel were on the scene in an instant, yelling at people to move into the theater where the graduation ceremony was to have been held. Fort Hood went into lockdown as victims were treated at the scene, and law enforcement officials hunted for the shooter. Some soldiers ripped off their uniforms and used them as makeshift bandages for the wounded. Cone praised them, saying "God bless these soldiers. As horrible as this was it could have been worse."
Investigators searched Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan's apartment. Click to find out what they have seized.
