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What the hell is going on...The Army has confirmed 7 dead, 20 wounded in shootings at Fort Hood, Texas. Fort Hood spokeswoman says: 1 shooter in custody, at least 2 gunmen believed involved in attack. The U.S. Army has closed its massive Army base at Fort Hood, Texas, amid reports that several people have been shot and killed at the post.

An Army spokesman at the Pentagon says the shootings began about 1:30 p.m. Thursday at a personnel and medical processing center at Fort Hood.

The spokesman, Lieutenant Colonel Nathan Banks, says two shooters were apparently involved. There is no word yet on who they were, nor on identities of the dead.

Banks says the second incident took place at a theater on the sprawling base.

He says it is too soon to tell whether there is any link to battle stress or repeated deployments. The Army is suffering a record high suicide rate and other signs of stress from fighting two wars.

A spokeswoman for the City of Killeen, where the base is located, tells USA TODAY the Army is "asking for EMTs because it's a mass casualty event."

"They are having issues getting on and off post because they've locked it down," said spokeswoman Hilary Shine. "Right now there are a lot of questions and confusion."

Fort Hood is set up like its own city with its own fire, police and medical facility, Shine says. They have not asked for Killeen Police to assist, but the police are on call if needed, she said.

The Web site of the base in central Texas has posted an alert that says, "Effective immediately Fort Hood is closed." The Web site said that units at the base have been ordered to account for all personnel.

The site says, "This is not a Drill. It is an Emergency Situation."

President Barack Obama has been briefed about reports of a shooting at Fort Hood, Texas.

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said the president is being kept updated as details about the shooting emerge.

Gibbs said he told Obama about TV news reports that seven people were dead at the Texas military location and others were injured. Gibbs said he informed Obama based on broadcast reports and the president is being kept up to date through the White House Situation Room.

Several television stations in Texas say several people were both killed and wounded in the shooting. Officials at the base and in the nearby town of Killeen, Texas, have not confirmed those accounts.

Fort Hood is located halfway between Austin and Waco.

Article Source:WUSA9.com



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