Hasan faces 13 murder charges

FORT HOOD, Texas, Nov. 12 (UPI) -- U.S. Army Maj. Nidal Hasan was charged with 13 counts of premeditated murder Thursday in last week's Fort Hood, Texas, shooting spree, an Army official said.

The charges are for each of the 12 military personnel and one civilian the military psychiatrist is accused of shooting and killing Nov. 5 when he opened fire inside Fort Hood's Soldier Readiness Center. More than 30 people were wounded.

"These are initial charges," said Chris Grey, a spokesman for the U.S. Army criminal investigation division. "Additional charges may be preferred (filed) in the future pending outcome of our investigation."

He said the investigation was ongoing.

"We are doing everything possible and looking for every reason (why) the shooting (occurred)," Grey said, by collecting, analyzing and disseminating "every piece of information."

Hasan, 39, allegedly gunned down unarmed soldiers preparing for deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. Grey said two civilian police officers "engaged the suspect," shooting and wounding him.

Hasan has been hospitalized in San Antonio Army hospital, where he was reported in stable condition.

"Major Hasan currently is under pretrial restriction while receiving medical care," Grey said. "We still believe there was only one gunman at the scene."

He said investigators learned Hasan didn't have an appointment or other official reason to be at the readiness center the day of the massacre.

Grey couldn't provide an estimate of when the crime scene -- including offices, cubicles and open areas inside the center, four adjacent buildings and two large parking lots -- would be released.

The joint federal-state-local task force remains "steadfast and committed to doing what has to be done to bring anyone and everyone to justice," Grey said.

Col. John Rossi, Fort Hood's spokesman, said 12 people remained hospitalized in stable condition, 11 in general wards and one in intensive care.

Stress management teams and counselors had made nearly 3,000 individual contacts so far with people on base, he said.

Rossi also said base officials received more than $165,000 in donations nationwide for families and support organizations.

Recalling Army Chief of Staff George W. Casey's comment that the shooting spree was a "kick in the gut," Rossi said the Fort Hood community "has gotten its breath back."