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Fort Hood shooter Ivan Lopez may have had verbal altercation with soldier Fort Hood shooter Ivan Lopez may have had verbal altercation with soldier
(5 months later)
An official at the US army's Fort Hood base said on Thursday there was a "strong possibility" that the gunman who killed three people and wounded 16 others there on Wednesday had argued with one or more soldiers immediately before the shooting.An official at the US army's Fort Hood base said on Thursday there was a "strong possibility" that the gunman who killed three people and wounded 16 others there on Wednesday had argued with one or more soldiers immediately before the shooting.
Fort Hood's senior officer, Lieutenant General Mark Milley, said investigators were looking into whether Specialist Ivan Lopez had a "verbal altercation" with another soldier or soldiers before the shooting. However, there was no indication that he targeted specific soldiers, Milley said.Fort Hood's senior officer, Lieutenant General Mark Milley, said investigators were looking into whether Specialist Ivan Lopez had a "verbal altercation" with another soldier or soldiers before the shooting. However, there was no indication that he targeted specific soldiers, Milley said.
Lopez never saw combat during a deployment to Iraq and had shown no apparent risk of violence before the shooting, officials said.Lopez never saw combat during a deployment to Iraq and had shown no apparent risk of violence before the shooting, officials said.
The 34-year-old truck driver seemed to have a clean record that showed no ties to extremist groups. But the army secretary promised that investigators would keep all avenues open in their inquiry into the actions of the soldier whose rampage ended only after he fired a final bullet into his own head.The 34-year-old truck driver seemed to have a clean record that showed no ties to extremist groups. But the army secretary promised that investigators would keep all avenues open in their inquiry into the actions of the soldier whose rampage ended only after he fired a final bullet into his own head.
"We're not making any assumptions by that. We're going to keep an open mind and an open investigation. We will go where the facts lead us," said army secretary John McHugh, explaining that "possible extremist involvement is still being looked at very, very carefully”."We're not making any assumptions by that. We're going to keep an open mind and an open investigation. We will go where the facts lead us," said army secretary John McHugh, explaining that "possible extremist involvement is still being looked at very, very carefully”.
Investigators said on Thursday they believe Lopez's unstable mental health contributed to the rampage. Lopez was seen by army psychiatrists last month. Investigators said on Thursday they believe Lopez's unstable mental health contributed to the rampage. Lopez was seen by army psychiatrists last month.
"He was undergoing a variety of treatment and diagnoses for mental-health conditions, running from depression to anxiety to some sleep disturbance," McHugh said."He was undergoing a variety of treatment and diagnoses for mental-health conditions, running from depression to anxiety to some sleep disturbance," McHugh said.
Lopez had been prescribed a number of drugs, including Ambien, a sleeping pill.Lopez had been prescribed a number of drugs, including Ambien, a sleeping pill.
He apparently walked into a building on Wednesday and began firing a .45-caliber semi-automatic pistol. He then got into a vehicle and continued firing before entering another building. He was eventually confronted by military police in a parking lot, according to Milley.He apparently walked into a building on Wednesday and began firing a .45-caliber semi-automatic pistol. He then got into a vehicle and continued firing before entering another building. He was eventually confronted by military police in a parking lot, according to Milley.
As he came within 20ft of a police officer, the gunman put his hands up but then reached under his jacket and pulled out his gun. The officer drew her own weapon and the suspect put his gun to his head and pulled the trigger, Milley said.As he came within 20ft of a police officer, the gunman put his hands up but then reached under his jacket and pulled out his gun. The officer drew her own weapon and the suspect put his gun to his head and pulled the trigger, Milley said.
For those living at or near the huge installation, halfway between Austin and Waco, Wednesday night's events brought back traumatic memories of another mass shooting on the site in 2009, when an army major killed 13 people and injured more than 30.For those living at or near the huge installation, halfway between Austin and Waco, Wednesday night's events brought back traumatic memories of another mass shooting on the site in 2009, when an army major killed 13 people and injured more than 30.
Milly confirmed on Thursday that the Lopez bought his .45-caliber pistol from Guns Galore in Killeen, Texas, the same gun shop where Nidal Hasan, the shooter convicted in the 2009 rampage, purchased his weapons. Employees at Guns Galore declined to comment to the Associated Press on Thursday.Milly confirmed on Thursday that the Lopez bought his .45-caliber pistol from Guns Galore in Killeen, Texas, the same gun shop where Nidal Hasan, the shooter convicted in the 2009 rampage, purchased his weapons. Employees at Guns Galore declined to comment to the Associated Press on Thursday.
A hospital official expressed optimism on Thursday that none of the 16 people who were wounded in the shooting would die. Counsellors were at the base on Thursday to offer support; a memorial service for the killed soldiers is being planned for next week.A hospital official expressed optimism on Thursday that none of the 16 people who were wounded in the shooting would die. Counsellors were at the base on Thursday to offer support; a memorial service for the killed soldiers is being planned for next week.
"Any time the army loses a soldier, we all mourn," said McHugh, speaking at a previously scheduled Senate committee hearing on Thursday morning."Any time the army loses a soldier, we all mourn," said McHugh, speaking at a previously scheduled Senate committee hearing on Thursday morning.
"When that loss comes at the hands of another soldier, and indeed when that event occurs at the very place that suffered so much pain, so much anguish just four and a half years ago, it only adds to the sorrow and the all-consuming sense of loss the amy is feeling this day.""When that loss comes at the hands of another soldier, and indeed when that event occurs at the very place that suffered so much pain, so much anguish just four and a half years ago, it only adds to the sorrow and the all-consuming sense of loss the amy is feeling this day."
Born in Puerto Rico, Lopez joined the island's National Guard in 1999, said a spokeswoman for the organisation. He enlisted in the US army in 2008 as an infantry soldier and had two deployments as a truck driver but no direct involvement in combat, McHugh said.Born in Puerto Rico, Lopez joined the island's National Guard in 1999, said a spokeswoman for the organisation. He enlisted in the US army in 2008 as an infantry soldier and had two deployments as a truck driver but no direct involvement in combat, McHugh said.
McHugh said there was no indication from psychological evaluations that Lopez was likely to commit violence.McHugh said there was no indication from psychological evaluations that Lopez was likely to commit violence.
"He was fully examined and as of this morning we had no indication on the record of the examination that there was any sign of likely violence, either to himself or to others, no suicidal ideation. So the plan forward was just to continue to monitor and to treat him as deemed appropriate.""He was fully examined and as of this morning we had no indication on the record of the examination that there was any sign of likely violence, either to himself or to others, no suicidal ideation. So the plan forward was just to continue to monitor and to treat him as deemed appropriate."
Fort Hood is one of the biggest military installations in the world, covering340 square miles and, according to the military, hosting about 45,000 soldiers and 9,000 civilian employees.Fort Hood is one of the biggest military installations in the world, covering340 square miles and, according to the military, hosting about 45,000 soldiers and 9,000 civilian employees.