US Army to Charge Alleged Fort Hood Shooter with Premeditated Murder
By VOA News
12 November 2009
U.S. Army officials say they intend to charge the alleged gunman in last week's shooting rampage at Fort Hood -- Major Nidal Malik Hasan -- with 13 counts of premeditated murder.
Officials are expected to officially announce the murder charges Thursday.
Hasan allegedly opened fire on unarmed soldiers at the Fort Hood military base as the troops were preparing for deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.
Authorities are investigating motives for the attack amid concerns that U.S. authorities missed warning signs that could have prevented the rampage that left 13 dead and 30 wounded.
A group of U.S. military doctors overseeing Hasan's training as an army psychiatrist expressed concerns a year ago about his bizarre behavior.
Hasan, who was shot multiple times by civilian police during the attack, is recovering at an Army hospital near San Antonio (Texas).
Earlier this week, doctors said Hasan is in serious condition but is awake and talking.
U.S. media reports Wednesday, citing unnamed military officials, said the doctors that reviewed Hasan a year ago held a series of meetings where they discussed problems with his performance and mental state.
Colleagues described Hasan as aloof, belligerent and frequently argumentative when discussing his Muslim faith, and some wondered if he was "psychotic."
The officials decided against seeking his removal because they did not believe him to be violent and they thought his transfer to Fort Hood in July would help lessen his workload.
On Tuesday, U.S. President Barack Obama paid tribute to the 13 victims during a memorial service at the base. He vowed that the "killer will be met with justice."
The president and first lady Michelle Obama also met privately with the wounded and families of the victims.
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