4 dead, including gunman, in Fort Hood shooting

Security is heightened at a U.S. Army base in Fort Hood Texas after yet another deadly shooting.

A soldier suffering from mental health issues killed at least three people and wounded 16 others before turning the gun on himself on Wednesday.

Military officials say there’s no indication the shootings are related to terrorism but it hasn’t been ruled out.

The all-clear has now been given at the base and cars are leaving the complex.

But still military police patrol the air and the roads.

“We’re heartbroken that something like this might have happened again,” President Barack Obama said.

“I don’t want to comment on facts until we know exactly what happened. But just for now I would hope that everyone across the country keep the families of Fort Hood in our thoughts and our prayers.

“The folks there have sacrificed so much on behalf of our freedom. Many of the people there have been on multiple tours of Iraq and Afghanistan, they served with valour, they served with distinction. At their home base they need to feel safe. We don’t yet know what happened tonight but obviously that sense of safety has been broken once again. We need to find out exactly what happened.”

At least six patients were transported to nearby Scott & White Memorial Hospital.

“We’ve had four patients that are actually here now and two more that are in route,” Dr. Glen Couchman, chief medical officer at the hospital, told Reuters.

“They’ve had a variety of injuries that we’ve been treating, ranging from gunshot wounds that had involved extremities abdomen, chest, and neck. These patients are receiving treatment right now, and we’re expecting two more to be arriving shortly. They’ve been transported by both air and land. The two that are coming are preparing to go directly to the operating room in anticipation of some very needed surgery.”

Officials say the gunman had served in Iraq and was suffering from depression and anxiety.

He was being assessed here for post-traumatic stress disorder. His name is not being released until next of kin has been notified.

It’s not the first time such an attack’s occurred. A gun rampage at this very same base five years ago left 13 soldiers dead and 32 wounded.

Maj. Nidal Hasan was sentenced to death for that shooting.

Now many here at Fort Hood are left asking how such a tragedy could happen once again.