Death toll rises to 13 in Fort Hood mass shooting Posted On: Thursday, Nov. 5 2009 02:06 PM
Updated On: Friday, Nov. 6 2009 01:46 AM Fort Hood officials have confirmed the new death toll from the Fort Hood mass shooting rising to 13 killed and 30 wounded. News of the new numbers came from post around 1:30 a.m. Further updates will continue following a 6:30 a.m. press conference at Fort Hood today.

Earlier reports of the tragic events that unfolded yesterday at Fort Hood and killed 13 were clarified by an evening press conference by Gen. Robert Cone.

Thirteen people were shot and killed Thursday at Fort Hood and another 31 were wounded. The shooter was shot by a civilian Fort Hood officer but was not killed. The shooter, Maj. Malik Hasan, is currently hospitalized.

The female officer who shot the shooter is also hospitalized currently.

Five-and-a-half hours after the tragic incident, sirens sounding "all clear" are ringing on post.

In a midday press conference and again at 8:15 Gen. Robert Cone confirmed the death toll. One of the confirmed casualties was a Fort Hood civilian police officer.

Both of the shooter's weapons were handguns, Cone said. Two other suspects were taken into custody. All but two civilians are U.S. soldiers .

Fort Hood officials reported the shooting occurred between 1:30 and 1:45 p.m. at the Soldier Readiness Center near Howze Theater on post today. Emergency personnel rushed to the scene.

Scott & White Hospital in Temple shortly began reporting it was receiving victims of the shooting. The hospital originally only closed the emergency
department to the public, but by early evening had closed entirely to the public in order to focus on victims and their families.

The emergency room remained open for those needing emergency care.

Scott & White Hospital requested blood donations of all types. Due to the overwhelming community response, by the evening *Scott & White's Web site
was asking those interested in donating blood to wait until the blood center had restocked and reopened at 8 a.m. Friday morning.

Scott & White reported it had 10 victims of the shooting, all adults and all suffering gunshot wounds.

Metroplex Adventist Hospital also reported it received seven of the victims from the Fort Hood shootings, one of whom later died.

Two others were taken into surgery – including an EMS – but were later taken to the ICU.

The other four were stabilized – two were transferred to Scott & White Memorial Hospital in Temple and two have been transferred to Seton in Round Rock.

Killeen Independent School District schools on post were locked down and district officials met to form a plan shortly after the incident began, said Leslie Gilmore, KISD spokesperson.

Killeen ISD: Killeen ISD has received word from Fort Hood that the lock down has been lifted. Students will be dismissed to parents.

All parents must go to the campus and pick up their student. Students will only be dismissed to parents/guardians who sign them out. No student will walk home or ride a bus.

Post officials are now releasing people from Howse Theater, the scene of the shooting, and are slowly releasing other people on the base.

Fort Hood is no longer in a lock down, a new press release states. Fort Hood officials have set up a Family Hotline for information. The Family Hotline is 254-288-7570 or 1-866-836-2751.

KISD officials reported a football game scheduled for tonight between Harker Heights and Copperas Cove High School was canceled.

Post officials say there will be no Physical Training in the morning for soldiers and all unit formations will be at 9 a.m.

Herald reporters are on scene and updates will continue here at kdhnews.command on http://twitter.com/kdhnews/.