Fort Hood Killer Faces More Charges

 

http://www.examiner.com/x-2684-Law-Enforcement-Examiner~y2009m12d2-Fort-Hood-killer-faces-more-charges

 

Fort Hood killer faces more charges

December 2, 6:43 PMLaw Enforcement ExaminerJim Kouri

Thirty-two specifications of attempted premeditated murder were preferred today against alleged Fort Hood, Texas, shooter Army Maj. Nidal M. Hasan under Article 80 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, according to Pentagon spokesperson Gerry Gilmore.  

 

The Uniform Code of Military Justice, or UCMJ, is the U.S. military's legal system for service members.

Hasan allegedly killed 13 people -- 12 soldiers and one civilian employee -- and wounded 30 others at Fort Hood during a November 5 shooting spree. He now is confined in a medical facility.

The crazed shooter was confronted and wounded by two civilian police officers posted on the base. One of the officers, Sergeant Kimberly Munley, was wounded during an exchange of shots with the suspected gunman.

Hasan initially was charged with 13 counts of premeditated murder under Article 118 of the UCMJ. As with the initial charges, the new charges are allegations only, and the accused is presumed innocent until proven otherwise, officials emphasized, noting that the investigation continues and additional charges remain a possibility.

Under Article 118, the minimum sentence if he's convicted is life with the possibility of parole. The maximum sentence is death.

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates appointed former Veterans Affairs Secretary Togo West and retired Navy Admiral Vernon Clark to lead an independent review panel that will examine the circumstances surrounding the Fort Hood shootings to see how potential future incidents could be avoided.

"We will look at policies and procedures that look at how we deal with service members who may cause trouble or harm to their fellows," West said at a November 24 news conference at Fort Hood.

Prior to the murders, Hasan, a Muslim,  reportedly made anti-American, pro-terrorist statements on several occasions. He's allegedly communicated with persons suspected of supporting terrorism, as well.

Meanwhile, a ranking US congressman said that he is concerned that President Barack Obama and his administration is being less than forthcoming with details of the Fort Hood Massacre and is withholding requested information.

U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra (R-MI), the top Republican on the House Intelligence Committee, claims that the Obama administration may be restricting the dissemination of information and limited information provided so far to the so-called "Gang of Eight."

Congressman Hoekstra, following up on multiple conversations with the Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair, requested that Blair and the heads of the FBI, the NSA and the CIA direct their agencies to preserve all documents and materials relevant to the Fort Hood attack and any related investigations or intelligence collection activities.

"President Obama said people should not jump to conclusions about what happened at Fort Hood, but the administration is in possession of critical information related to the attack that they are refusing to release to Congress or the American people," Hoekstra said.

 

Jim Kouri, CPP is currently fifth vice-president of the National Association of Chiefs of Police and he's a columnist for The Examiner (examiner.com) and New Media Alliance (thenma.org).  In addition, he's a blogger for the Cheyenne, Wyoming Fox News Radio affiliate KGAB (www.kgab.com). Kouri also serves as political advisor for Emmy and Golden Globe winning actor Michael Moriarty. 

He's former chief at a New York City housing project in Washington Heights nicknamed "Crack City" by reporters covering the drug war in the 1980s. In addition, he served as director of public safety at a New Jersey university and director of security for several major organizations.  He's also served on the National Drug Task Force and trained police and security officers throughout the country.   Kouri writes for many police and security magazines including Chief of Police, Police Times, The Narc Officer and others. He's a news writer and columnist for AmericanDaily.Com, MensNewsDaily.Com, MichNews.Com, and he's syndicated by AXcessNews.Com.   Kouri appears regularly as on-air commentator for over 100 TV and radio news and talk shows including Fox News Channel, Oprah, McLaughlin Report, CNN Headline News, MTV, etc.