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President Barack Obama said Friday the entire nation is grieving for those slain at Fort Hood, and he urged people not to jump to conclusions while law enforcement officers investigate yesterday's deadly shooting at a U.S. military base in Texas.
"We don't know all the answers yet. And I would caution against jumping to conclusions until we have all the facts," Mr. Obama said in a Rose Garden statement otherwise devoted to the economy.
"What we do know is that there are families, friends and an entire nation grieving right now for the valiant men and women who came under attack yesterday," the president said.
Federal, state and local law authorities are joining in the investigation of Thursday's deadly rampage, in which a military psychiatrist facing deployment overseas allegedly opened fire, killing 13 people, before being shot by a first responder.
One of the 13 dead was a civilian.
Thirty people were also wounded, with half of those hospitalized requiring surgery, Army officials said. They are all in stable condition.
The shooting suspect was identified as Army Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan.
Lt. Gen. Robert Cone, Fort Hood's base commander, told CBS's "The Early Show" that the suspect was shot at least twice inside a building on the base, then left the building to pursue his victims as they tried to flee, firing off more rounds. Hasan was shot a total of four times during the rampage, and was initially reported to have been killed.
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All indications are there was a single shooter, and Hasan the sole suspect, said Col. John Rossi, Deputy Commanding General - Fires and Effects at Fort Hood, although a senior U.S. official did not rule out the possibility of ties to a radical group.
Cone told "Early Show" co-anchor Harry Smith that the alleged gunman is rumored to have said "Allahu Akbar" - Arabic for "God is great!" - during the shooting, but was unable to confirm that information.
At this morning's press conference officials could not confirm that the shooter said anything during the half-hour-long incident.
Though the base is no longer under lockdown, it is operating at a heightened level of security. "We are fully confident in the security of this installation and remain so," said Rossi.
The Army is providing the post with additional grief counselors, chaplains, and public affairs support. Rossi also said this morning that about 90% of the families of victims have been notified so far.
The violence was believed to be the worst mass shooting in history at a U.S. military base. "This has been a tragic incident, and our hearts and prayers go out to all of those who have been impacted by this tragedy," said Rossi.
As of noon Friday, the names of three of the dead have been released:
Spc. Jason Dean Hunt, a 22-year-old Oklahoma native, has served three and a half years in the Army, including a tour in Iraq. Hunt was married two months ago.
Sgt. Amy Krueger, 29, from Kiel, Wis., was with the Madison-based 467th Medical Detachment. She had arrived at Fort Hood just two days before the shooting, according to her mother, Jeri Krueger, and was scheduled to be sent to Afghanistan in December.
Pfc. Michael Pearson, 21, of Bolingbrook, Ill. A neighbor in the suburb of Chicago told the Associated Press that the family has "lost their gem."
White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said today a memorial service will be scheduled at the convenience of families who lost loved ones, and that President Obama would attend.
Military officials say they are still piecing together what may have pushed Hasan, an Army psychiatrist trained to help soldiers in distress, to turn on his comrades.
Federal authorities seized the suspect's computer and are looking for clues that may have led to the military massacre.
Cone says Hasan was not known to be a threat or risk, and that military officials will interrogate him as soon as possible.
The shooting began around 1:30 p.m., when shots were fired at the base's Soldier Readiness Center, where soldiers who are about to be deployed or who are returning undergo medical screening.
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