Fort Hood: Wading through the aftermath

(KXAN/AP) -  

One day after a mass shooting at Fort Hood sent the nation reeling, leaders are trying to come to grips with the aftermath: More information comes out every minute as victims are identified and the suspect's profile comes into focus.

On Friday, military, U.S. and state leaders were simply trying to digest the appalling mass shooting that claimed 13 lives.

"People here are tense," said SPC. Refugio Figueroa, 22. "They think they let their guard down, thinking they are on a military post, everything should be safe and then this comes up. People are worried something like this can pop up again."

No amount of flags flying at half-staff or moments of silence can summarize the massive loss of life at the post.

President Barack Obama spoke to the nation on Friday morning, ordering flags be lowered in honor of those who lost their lives.

"This is a modest tribute," said President Obama. "It is also a recognition of those men and women who serve. We stand in awe of their sacrifice. We pray for the families of those that have fallen. As we learn more, the administration will continue to provide updates."

The suspected shooter, Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, was shot by local authorities and remains hospitalized. Hasan shot and killed 13 people as well as wounding 30. Twenty-eight of those are still hospitalized. The motive for the incident is unclear. President Obama urged people not to jump to conclusions while law enforcement officials gather facts about the shootings.

The soldiers who were killed will be flown to Dover Air Force Base later Friday, where autopsies will be performed.

Law enforcement officials said a 5.7-millimeter pistol used in the Fort Hood shooting rampage was purchased legally at a Texas gun store called "Guns Galore."

Records indicate that Nadil Malik Hasan, 39, bought the FN 5.7 at the store well before the attack that left 13 people dead. The pistol has been dubbed a "cop killer" by those who have tried to stop its use. The most powerful type of ammunition for the gun is available only to law enforcement and military personnel. The ammo has the ability to pierce bulletproof vests, but it is unclear at this time whether the bullets Hasan purchased had that capability.

As the investigation continues, more details are emerging, including images captured seven hours just before he started shooting. General George W. Casey, Jr. described the tragedy as "a kick in the gut, not only for the Ft. Hood community, but for the entire Army."

The Secretary of the Army, John McHugh, came out during a press conference at 1:45 p.m. CST to commend the first responders and Lt. Sgt. Robert Cone, saying he did an "incredible job responding to an incredible challenge."

"I want to give a special thanks and a word of admiration for the first responders," said McHugh. "Those that came when the call first went out and those soldiers that utilized their battlefield life-saving training in the building as the situation was unfolding. We were told that those actions did, indeed, save their lives. The army family is strong, but a great source of that strength is what we derive from each other in time of crisis and challenge and how we hold each other straight and how we make a difference. This is the time for 'Army strong' to mean what it says."

Charles Medley, director of emergency services at Ft. Hood, commended the first responder, Sgt. Kimberly Munley, who is now injured in the hospital after shooting Hasan.

"She saved in my mind, no doubt, countless lives," said Medley. "She eliminated the threat and did what she was trained to do. She is absolutely a hero."

First responders to the shooting described what they saw when they arrived on the scene. Hundreds of unarmed troops massed together in a confined space against a rage-filled man, armed with a semiautomatic pistol, standing on top of a desk, gunning down his comrades.

"When you have anything like an active shooter or anything like that you don't hesitate at all. You go right in, and your main goal is to take the shooter down," recalled Sgt. Andrew Hagerman with the military police. "Your weapon was drawn at all times? All of us, there was a whole bunch of us with weapons drawn."

Even though many of the first responders have been to war zones, they were still shocked by the amount of injuries. Sources at Ft. Hood recounted the events, saying some people ran straight to the gun fire to check for the possibly wounded. Gen. Casey actually said a young private "who was sitting in his pickup truck went after his buddies and with the help of others, dragged four other injured individuals, saving their lives."

"We had a couple of mass casualty situations like this in Iraq, usually though in Iraq or Afghanistan when you have this many casualties it's usually from a blast, different type of injury pattern," said Major Steven Beckwith who directed the paramedics. "This is certainly the most gunshot wounds as I've seen at one time."

Hospital administrators and