Military, friends and families have observed a moment of silence at Fort Hood, Texas and other U.S. military bases as a show of respect for the victims of the shooting rampage.  Secretary of Defense Robert Gates had declared a moment of silence for U.S. military forces worldwide on Friday afternoon.  Dozens of people haved gathered at Fort Hood and bowed their heads as part of the moment of silence.  Army Chief of Staff George Casey and Army Secretary John McHugh also arrived at the base Friday.

Press update from Fort Hood (1:39pm Friday)

 

 

Fort Hood Press Conference at 6:30am

 
Authorities say Fort Hood shooting Nidal Malik Hasan remains in a coma but is expected to live. A federal law enforcement official said investigators have not been able to talk to Hasan since the deadly rampage that left 13 people dead and injured 30 others at the sprawling Army post in Texas on Thursday. The initial investigation shows that Hasan allegedly used only one gun during the attack _ a 5.7-caliber semiautomatic pistol. Army officials said Hasan also was carrying another handgun. But the law enforcement official said there's nothing so far to indicate the second weapon was fired. The law enforcement official spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing.

President Obama

 

President Barack Obama says the "whole nation is grieving right now'' over the mass killings at Fort Hood. He urged people not to jump to conclusions while law enforcement officials gather facts about the shootings.  The president on Friday ordered flags at the White House and other federal agencies to be flown at half-staff until Veterans Day as a tribute to those who lost their lives.   A shooter went on a rampage that left 13 people dead and injured 30 others at the sprawling Army post in Texas. Obama promised to update the nation as his administration learns more about what happened.  The suspected shooter, Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, was shot and remains hospitalized. The motive for the incident is unclear.

 

 

The family of the suspected Fort Hood shooter says "the actions of their cousin are despicable and deplorable.''  Kim Fuller, a spokeswoman for Nidal Malik Hasan's family says relatives in Northern Virginia are reaching out to law enforcement Friday to offer insight. Authorities have said Hasan is suspected in Thursday's mass killings at Fort Hood military base in Texas.  Hasan's family said in a statement Friday that his actions don't reflect how they were raised in the U.S. Military officials are still trying to piece together what may have pushed the 39-year-old Army psychiatrist, trained to help soldiers in distress, to turn on his comrades.