A civilian police officer was credited today with halting the deadly rampage at Fort Hood, Texas, by shooting the alleged gunman four times despite being wounded herself during the exchange.
Fort Hood Sgt. Kimberly Munley was outside directing traffic before she and her partner responded within three minutes of reports that shots had been fired at the sprawling U.S. Army post Thursday afternoon, according to Lt. Gen. Robert Cone.
“It was an amazing and an aggressive performance by this police officer,” Cone said, adding that Munley was only a few feet away from the alleged gunman, Maj. Nadil Hasan, when she opened fire.
Offcials said Munley, 34, was hospitalized and is in stable condition. Hasan, an Army psychiatrist accused of killing 13 and wounding at least 30 others during the rampage, is hospitalized on a ventilator.
Cone said that Munley, a Killeen, Texas, resident who was trained in active-response tactics, rushed into the building and confronted Hasan as he was turning a corner. Cone also said Munley spent Thursday night phoning fellow officers from her hospital room to let her know she was fine and learn more about what happened during the attack.
“She walked up and engaged him,” Cone said, adding that her training taught her that “if you act aggressively to take out a shooter you will have less fatalities.”
Munley is “one of our most impressive young police officers,” Cone said.
A biography on Munley’s Twitter account says: “I live a good life… a hard one, but I got to sleep peacefully (at) night knowing that I may have made a difference in someone’s life.”
A screen-grab from the account indicates she does not use it regularly; the last entry, on July 6th, reads: “Still recovering from a long night of work from Saturday!” She also described herself as “an OCD mom” in an earlier tweet, writing she was hopeful the H1N1 virus “stays FAR away from Jayden!!!”
A Facebook group has already popped up in support of Munley. “Sgt. Kimberly Munley: A Real American Hero!” has 150 members.
“She is in the hospital recovering from her wounds. We can all leave her messages of gratitude along with ‘get well’ wishes on this page. Let us keep her as well as all those involved in our prayers!” write the group’s administrators.
Another group, “God Bless SGT Kimberly Munley,” is aggregating information about the wounded Fort Hood officer — and growing rapidly.
“My thoughts and prayers go out to SGT Kimberly Munley … I personaly feel that this brave and courageous Officer deservs the highest honor that can be bestowed on a civillan … God bless you SGT Kimberly Munley and best wishes for a full and speedy recovery,” one member wrote on the group’s wall.
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