Five years after the massacre in Fort Hood, wounds were reopened on Wednesday, April 2^nd.  A lone gunman opened fire on people roaming the sprawling military base leaving three dead and sixteen wounded. After a brief engagement with military police, the gunman committed suicide.

Witnesses and military officials said the shooting occurred about 4:30 p.m. The base’s emergency alert system immediately sounded, and all personnel were told to shelter in place. The “all-clear” siren wasn’t sounded until about 8:45 p.m., almost four hours after the base was locked down and sealed off.

The gunman was later identified as Ivan Lopez, age 34. Lopez was an enlisted soldier and according to General Mark Milley was being treated for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. It is believed he received PTSD from his tour in Iraq. “Experience has taught us many things here at Fort Hood. We know the community is strong. The soldiers who have served so bravely through the last 13 years in Iraq are strong, and we will get through this.” Gereneral Milley does not believe this to be an act of terrorism, though the investigation is still pending and the possibility cannot be ruled out.

President Barack Obama spoke after the shooting saying, “We’re heartbroken something like this might have happened again. We’re following it closely. I want to just assure all of us we are going to get to the bottom of exactly what happened.”

More information will be available as the situation develops.