Ft. Hood shooter has Durham family

Friday, November 06, 2009

Tags:

local/state

DURHAM (WTVD) -- The man who allegedly went on a shooting rampage at Fort Hood Thursday has family in Durham.

Investigators say Army psychiatrist Nidal Malik Hasan killed 13 people and hurt 30 before a former North Carolina police officer shot him four times.

He's in intensive care at a Texas hospital.

As investigators dig into Hasan's past as they try and understand a motive for the attack, they say they intend to interview members of his family.

It's unclear if they've talked to Durham family members tracked down by the ABC11 Eyewitness News I-Team. By phone Friday, a relative said the family was too distraught to do an on-camera interview and were standing by a statement released by a cousin.

"We are shocked and saddened by the terrible events at Fort Hood," read the statement. "We send the families of the victims our most heartfelt sympathies."

"We are filled with grief for the families of today's victims. Our family loves America. We are proud of our country, and saddened by today's tragedy," it continued.

The family also says it's still trying to piece together the tragic events, and at this point is afraid to say anything more.