WAVE 3 TV Louisville, KY | Kentuckiana military families react to Fort Hood shooting

Kentuckiana military families react to Fort Hood shooting

By Marisela Burgos - bio | email
Posted by Charles Gazaway - email

RADCLIFF, KY (WAVE) – Across the nation, military families are reacting to the November 5 shooting at Fort Hood. The U.S. Army said a military psychiatrist killed at least 12 people and wounded 31 others at a medical screening center at the Texas post. The accused shooter, identified as Major Nidal Malik Hasan, was shot a number of times, but survived.

Here in the Bluegrass, Mary Anne Ruiz said told us how seh felt after hearing about the mass shooting.

"It brought me to tears. I was devastated," said Mary Anne, who, along with her husband, Carlos, a retired soldier, live near Fort Knox.

Carlos Ruiz was shocked to learn the accused shooter is mental health doctor.

"It's kind of strange for the person like that to snap. I expect that from a person who’s a tanker or infantry man or somebody like that," said Carlos.

Another family praying for the victims of the shooting is Diana Reamer. Just five months ago, Reamer’s family moved from Kentucky to Texas. Her husband, Major Darrell Reamer, is stationed at Fort Hood and was on the post just three miles away from the shooting.

"I told my kids to be grateful when their daddy comes in the door today," Reamer said, who heard sirens from her Texas home.

Reamer also wondered what the accused shooter was thinking when he pointed a gun and fired at comrades.

"It's shocking because it's right here. It's shocking because it is someone in the military who did this. It's shocking because these are the soldiers defending those who would perpetrate these acts," said Reamer.

The shooting is still under investigation.

Kentucky is now home to more than 3,000 soldiers previously stationed at Fort Hood. Under changes being made as part of the Base Closure and Realignment Commission (BRAC), the 3rd Brigade Combat team is now based at Fort Knox.

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