Soldier Kills Fort Hood Officer, Then Himself After Shootout With Police

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(September 8, 2008)—A Fort Hood soldier killed his lieutenant and then later shot himself after a shootout with Killeen police Monday morning at a Killeen apartment complex.

It happened around 8:40 a.m. Monday after the lieutenant and a staff sergeant went to check on the welfare of the soldier at the apartment complex at 1807 N. 2nd St. in Killeen.

A disturbance ensued and one of the soldiers called 911.

As police officers arrived, they saw the soldier shoot his lieutenant.

“When the officers came, got up here, rounded the corner they saw the soldier hit his lieutenant and then shoot him," Killeen Police Department Spokesperson Carroll Smith said.

Officers then exchanged gunfire with the soldier.

One witness told News 10 that 20 to 30 shots were fired before the soldier shot himself in the head.

"They started lighting the guys up,” Spc. Perry Rasmussen said. “Probably a good 20 or 30 rounds. Then I jumped out and got behind my vehicle."

The gunfire sent residents of the area running for cover.

"I seen the police cars coming down the street with sirens and lights going and I heard gunshots,” Edgar Boker said.

Autopsies were ordered on both victims.

A Fort Hood spokesman says the three soldiers’ unit is in the middle of training and not scheduled to deploy for several months.

(Matt Felder contributed to this story)

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Posted by: person Location: Killeen on Sep 12, 2008 at 06:49 PM
He was accused of stealing really expensive scopes that go on guns and was being questioned not checked on. The LT shouldnt have been questioning him in the first place. This could have been prevented CID should have been notified and this wouldnt have happened. It was a bad decision and whats sad is it didnt have to happen.

Posted by: Someone who knew these people Location: No longer @ Fort Hood on Sep 10, 2008 at 02:07 PM
People handle things differently, for those of you who think that the welfare of soldiers should not fall on their NCO's you are very wrong! An NCO takes a creed to put the welfare of his or her soldiers first. I knew the soldier who took the LT's life and his own, he was a great guy, who made a stupid decision! My heart aches for the loss of life here, but also at some of the postings here. For those of you with your comments about how we shouldn't blame the war on soldiers mental issues, please deploy! Go to Iraq or Afghanistan, live like we do for a year, see the things that we do and then come home and try to cope with civillian life and be ok!!!

Posted by: Mother of Three Location: Temple on Sep 9, 2008 at 11:39 AM
Contrary to what some of the other posters have said, it sounds like the Army was TRYING to take care of it's own. They have their own justice system (court marshall's, etc.) and what good employer would not check on an employee who failed to show up for work? If what "Malya" says is correct then it was nothing more than a tragedy that was directly the cause of the soldier who shot his LT. There was no need for that even if he had served in Iraq. And before anyone says I don't know what I'm talking about, my father was in the military, along with several uncles, grandparents, close friends. I had a great-uncle who came back from Nam and killed himself because he couldn't handle it. However, my boss was there at a very young age also and would never hurt another human being. Another uncle was in Korea and Iraq (other places too) and also wouldn't hurt a soul. No matter how it went down and why, two families lost loved ones and need prayers.

Posted by: Mandy Location: Ft Hood on Sep 9, 2008 at 11:03 AM
I agree with the people who are against others using the deployment as an excuse. Now I am not saying that what our soldiers go through isn't terrible, my husband has been deployed twice with the possibility of going again next year, but that doesn't give them the right to think that they can do whatever they want here and get away with it. They still have to be held accountable for their actions. There IS help here at Ft Hood as well as all the other bases, the soldier has to be willing to go seek the help. When my husband came back his unit had to go through a Post-Deployment Check-up. They had to talk to doctors to make sure that they were okay. Things are being done to help our soldiers. I appriecate that the commanders watch out for our soldiers, it shows that they care about their well-being. My prayer are with the families, I am so sorry about your lose. God Bless

Posted by: JOan Johnson Location: Cincinnati, OHIO on Sep 9, 2008 at 10:58 AM
Please send further information on LT Fletcher to me: Joan johnson When is his service? 5319 Grafton Cincinnati OH. 45237

Posted by: Malya Location: killeen on Sep 9, 2008 at 10:53 AM
I read this story in the Killeen Daily Herald and it was said that the 1st LT and Staff SGT were there to question the soldier about missing equipment that where then found in his apartment. Apparently, the soldier was getting out of the Army and decided to take a few things with him when he went. MY guess is that when he got caught with the missing equipment he got scared and did something stupid in shooting the 1st LT. It's ashame that this happened and 2 soldiers lost their life. My prayers goes out to the familes involved and pray that they find peace and hopefully closure. I also pray for the Staff SGT because he witnessed it all first hand and he will have to live with that for the rest of his life.

Posted by: Anonymous Location: Killeen on Sep 9, 2008 at 09:50 AM
I am so sorry that out men in service find the need to take lives of other's and themselves. I have to agree to some extent with the previous writter. WE need to treat soldier like they are adults the real world would NOT put up with excuses after excuses you would be fired.... our senior leads don't have a shoulder to cry on or they look incompetitant. I thik each soldier shuld be treated equal.. My heart go out to the families for the lost soldier's....

Posted by: Supergirl Location: Robinson on Sep 9, 2008 at 08:27 AM
Posted by: Have you lost your mind??? Location: Killeen on Sep 8, 2008 at 11:53 PM ---- Your argument loses all credibility when you start attacking people on a personal level. That's too bad, because the point you were trying to make was a good one.

Posted by: Have you lost your mind??? Location: Killeen on Sep 8, 2008 at 11:53 PM
First of all, my sympathies for both families. Second, Amy, you are just ignorant!!! "The Army needs to stop caring so much and get back to business, creating a professional work environment" That work environment has to have a very very strong bond built with trust and CARE!!! How stupid are you???? That's the problem now. More NCO's need a lesson in caring. The Army is not just a job. It's so much more than that. And if you can't see that, GET...OUT OF OUR COUNTRY!!!!! People like you make me sick!!! I bet you would want the Army to care if something happened and you needed help! That's what they do. It is one HUGE family, a family that, for the most part, is always there for each other. That's what this Lt. was doing this morning. Checking on his family.

Posted by: Mr. on Sep 8, 2008 at 10:58 PM
So sorry for the LT. and families of both soldiers. Why do things like this have to happen? It's so sad. I wish the man who committed suicide wasn't so selfish in taking the LT's life. Sounds like he had issues beyond Iraq and PTSD. At any rate, I am sorry for both families of the two soldiers.

Posted by: Tony Montana Location: Killeen, TX on Sep 8, 2008 at 09:56 PM
Once again another case of a soldier having major issues... What kind of issues only that soldier and God knows. However, here at Ft. Hood, the chain of command think that they can smother Soldiers and treat them like little children after sending them on numerous deployments. As always the military has failed to take care of it's own which in the end resulted in the death of 2 Soldiers. The only thing the Chain of Command is concerned about here at Fort Hood is nothing. Discipline in the military is a thing of the past and it's all because the senior leaders have none starting with the Command Sergeant Majors on down. One more thing these soldiers need to helped instead of being treated like babies. The biggest joke that's coming to Fort Hood is this courtesy patrol that the General wants to start. If the Army would stop lowering it's standards and KPD would do their job their would be no need for a courtesy patrol. "Placing more people in danger because, the Army has no standard".

Posted by: the Mrs Location: HH on Sep 8, 2008 at 07:50 PM
I just returned from a symposium on war and the invisible wounds. This isn't a lack of care available it is a lack of soldiers utilizing the care available. Less than 30% of them will access the system of care in place. And incidently um, I know a lot of guys who have been deployed including my own husband, sometimes 3 and 4 times who don't shoot people. It's not an excuse and no where does it say he has been to Iraq. My guess is alcohol or drugs was a culprit more than anything. Meanwhile 2 young men are dead and both families devestated; what a shame.

Posted by: soldier's wife Location: Fort Hood on Sep 8, 2008 at 06:46 PM
My condolences and prayers to the families of this tragedy...I hope that this sends a wake up call to all those in higher ranks...our soldiers need guidance and moral support..i agree that alot more needs to be done for our soldiers returning from combat..

Posted by: Amy Location: Killeen on Sep 8, 2008 at 03:30 PM
This is one of the many reasons that the Army should stop making the welfare of soldiers outside of work the responsibility of other soldiers. I would hate for my husband not to come home from a normal day of work and duty because one of his guys decided to be a moron. NCOs and commanders are practically having to baby sit their guys outside of work. So he doesn't show up for formation that day (just like not showing up on time for a shift at Wal-Mart) give him the proper punishment when he does return. These guys are adults and should be expected to make decisions like an adult. His lieutenant needlessly lost his life today!!! The Army needs to stop caring so much and get back to business, creating a professional work environment. Leave your personal problems at the door and focus on the tasks at hand for the day.

Posted by: michelle Location: killeen on Sep 8, 2008 at 02:29 PM
My thoughts and prayers to all involved. Very tragic, indeed.

Posted by: Just sayin is all Location: Ft Hood on Sep 8, 2008 at 02:10 PM
Melvenia, Think you posted on the wrong page

Posted by: P Location: Temple on Sep 8, 2008 at 01:27 PM
May Gob Bless all involved, including the police.

Posted by: joe Location: Killeen on Sep 8, 2008 at 12:54 PM
you can't blame the war on what happened. There are people out there that have never been to war that kill for who knows why. It's the mental state a person is in that causes this problem. Some people just can't handle LIFE and they want to take someone put with them. They went to check on "him" means someone was worried that he might of caused himself harm. This happens in cilvian life as well as in the mil.

Posted by: Army Wife Location: Everywhere on Sep 8, 2008 at 12:49 PM
Sorry for the loss of the life. But maybe if his chain of command took him serious the first time it wouldnt hav come to this. My prayers go out to everyone involved. More needs to be done to help our soldiers returning from WAR!

Posted by: Kelly Location: Cove on Sep 8, 2008 at 12:17 PM
If they ck on the background of this soldier I am sure it had nothing to do with Iraq but other things. Yes our soldiers are stretched to far but that is not an excuse for what he did, he now left a family with a loved one. For what he didnt want to go to work or was in some trouble. I pray that all involved can find forgivness and peace. Please don't make excuses for these actions, get them help.

Posted by: melvenia wise Location: unknown on Sep 8, 2008 at 11:21 AM
it is a blessing that josh was found sfe and unarm.

Posted by: Mary Location: Waco on Sep 8, 2008 at 11:12 AM
I'm sure that poor young soldier had been to Iraq. I guess he just couldn't handle civilian life. How Sad :(

Posted by: me Location: copperas cove on Sep 8, 2008 at 10:55 AM
we send these young men off to kill over and over again what are we to expect. My prayers to all involved.

Posted by: Michelle Location: Central TX on Sep 8, 2008 at 10:14 AM
What a sad and tragic story. My heart and prayers are will all involved.

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