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Hasan entered his workplace, the Soldier Readiness Center—where personnel receive routine medical treatment immediately prior to and on return from deployment—at approximately 13:34 (CST). Next, according to eyewitnesses, he took a seat at an empty table at the center and bowed his head for several seconds,[15] then stood up and opened fire with two handguns: an FN Five-seven semi-automatic pistol and a .357 Magnum Smith & Wesson revolver,[16] at soldiers processing through cubicles in the center and on a crowd gathered 30 minutes before a scheduled college graduation ceremony in a nearby theater.[17] The FN Five-seven pistol used in the shooting had been purchased at a civilian gun store.[18] At the start of the attack, Hasan reportedly jumped up on a desk and shouted: "Allahu Akbar!",[19][20][21][22] before allegedly firing more than 100 rounds in the processing center.[23] Sgt. Mark Todd, a civilian police officer, said: "He was firing at people as they were trying to run and hide. Then he turned and fired a couple of rounds at me. I didn't hear him say a word, he just turned and fired."[24] A medic who treated Hasan said the pockets of his combat fatigues were full of pistol magazines.[25]
Witnesses reported that Hasan appeared to focus on soldiers in uniform.[26] Thirteen people (12 soldiers and 1 civilian) were killed, of whom, 11 died at the scene, 2 later in hospital.[27][28] Thirty others were wounded before Hasan was shot at least four times by local police officers, including Sergeant Kimberly Munley, who was herself non-fatally shot by Hasan.[19]
Munley had arrived on the scene within three minutes of receiving the report of an emergency at the center. Upon arrival, she encountered the shooter, Hasan, exiting the building in pursuit of a wounded soldier. Munley and Hasan exchanged shots. Munley was hit three times; twice through the left leg, and once in her right wrist which knocked her to the ground. In the meantime, civilian police officer Mark Todd arrived and fired at Hasan. Hasan was hit and felled by shots from Todd and Munley.[29][30] Todd approached the wounded shooter, kicked the pistol out of his hand, and placed him in handcuffs as Hasan fell unconscious.[31]
The incident lasted for about 10 minutes.[32] Contrary to initial reports, Hasan was not killed in the incident; rather, he was hospitalized in stable condition.[1] Initially, three soldiers were believed to have been involved in the shooting; two other soldiers were detained, but subsequently released. The Fort Hood website posted a notice that indicated that the shooting was not a drill. Immediately after the shooting, the base and surrounding areas, including a number of local schools, were locked down with military police and SWAT teams. The lockdown lasted approximately five hours, and was lifted around 7 p.m., local time.[33] In addition to military police and local civilian police officers, FBI agents were called in from Austin and Waco,[34] and Texas Rangers were dispatched.[35] United States President Barack Obama was briefed on the incident, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters. Obama later held a press conference about the shooting.[1]
