PHOTO BY LISA CARNLEY Lt. Gen. Robert Cone, III Corps and Fort Hood commander, responds to a media question after Thursday’s mass shooting at the Army post. In a surprise announcement at Thursday night’s press conference at Fort Hood, Lt. Gen. Robert Cone, the Army installation’s commanding officer, told media gathered that the man responsible for a mass shooting at the post that left 13 dead and more than 30 injured was not killed in events that unfolded that day.

Earlier reports by Cone had said U.S. Army Major Malik Nadel Hasan -- a Fort Hood psychiatrist -- was shot and killed during a shooting incident at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at the Fort Hood Soldier Readiness Processing Center, where troops receive medical and dental care before leaving for overseas duty.

Hasan is suspected of being the lone gunman who shot soldiers to death and left others wounded in what is called the deadliest shooting in Fort Hood’s history.

PHOTO BY LISA CARNLEY Lt. Gen. Robert Cone, left, flanked by Fort Hood officials including Steve Moore, public affairs specialist, center, shares recent information with media near the military post’s Bernie Beck Main Gate. The commanding general reported that Hasan was shot multiple times by a female first responder after he opened fire in the processing center.

“Hasan was wounded, but I don’t want to reveal his condition,” said Cone at the Thursday press conference, though he confirmed Hasan was in custody, in stable condition and not speaking to investigators.

Cone also would not say in which medical facility the shooter was being treated.

“I would say his death is not imminent,” he added, when asked to expand on Hasan’s condition.

The first responder, whom Cone called a “female civilian officer,” also was initially reported as killed on the scene. But Cone updated the media on that point, as well. “We now know the female officer is alive, just out of surgery and in stable condition. She is believed to be the first responder who shot the suspect.”

The general said the preliminary investigation indicated a single gunman was involved in shooting multiple times at the scene of the Readiness Processing Center.

Earlier reports indicated other shooters were involved, but the general said new information disputed that. “When the incident immediately happened, there were eyewitnesses who indicated they saw several people exit the scene and move into two buildings,” said Cone. “The buildings were secured, and the individuals questioned, as well as over 100 people at the scene, that led us to believe it is a single shooter.

“Initially, all three [suspects] were held and questioned, but there is still no indication that it’s not a single shooter.”

Cone credited first responders whose quick reaction caused them to close off the doors between the Howze Auditorium where a graduation ceremony was being held and the Solider Readiness Center where the shootings took place.

About 130 soldiers were participating in a graduation ceremony about 50 meters from the shooting site, said the general, who added that about 600 people were in the auditorium.

The shooting took place in a very enclosed area, said Cone. “It was a large waiting area, and that’s why I think you get that high number of casualties and largely military people all in the area.”

Cone confirmed Hasan had two weapons and that one was a semiautomatic which, he said, might explain the rate of fire Hasan attained. The base commander said there was no indication Hasan’s weapons were military issue.

Asked if events could stem from a possible terrorist attack, the general said he couldn’t rule that out, but the evidence did not suggest that.

“God bless those soldiers and Department of Army civilians,” said the general. “The quick reactions. People tell stories that soldiers ripped pieces from their uniforms and basically were applying first aid. We put a great investment in first aid and taking care of each other, and I’m sure this would have been much worse [otherwise]. As horrible as this was, I think it could have been much worse.”

Soldiers on the scene provided initial first aid before the first certified medical personnel were able to arrive and the site was secured. “Many of the soldiers are trained as combat life savers,” he added.

Asked if soldiers in the readiness room were armed, the general emphatically replied, “No.”

“As a matter of practice, we do not carry weapons. This is our home. We do have security guards here -- military police and civilian police -- but soldiers on Fort Hood do not carry weapons,” said Cone.

The general said because of the incident, the presence of security personnel will increase in the coming days. “But the fact is that soldiers do not carry weapons routinely unless they are on a training or similar exercise.”

Cone said Thursday’s events were tragic, “and our hearts and prayers go out to those who have been impacted.”

The general said he spoke to President Barack Obama personally, and that Obama extended his condolences and offered his support to Fort Hood and surrounding communities.

After Cone completed the press conference and took questions from media, he was escorted from the area. An aide told those on hand that additional press conferences would be held as more information became available.

Media from all over the state gathered at the Bernie Beck Gate about a mile and a half from Fort Hood’s main gate. The military post -- including nine schools on the base -- were locked down after the shooting. No one got in, and no one got out.

A heavy law enforcement presence was on site which included Texas Rangers and Department of Public Safety officers. Police and deputies from a number of area agencies, including Lampasas, were called to the scene. Texas Ranger Jess Ramos was among them.

Kempner Police Chief David Sheedy was off-duty at the time of the shootings, but he came to Fort Hood to offer his assistance.

“Several of my reserve officers are police officers on base, and I came to help,” he said.

Civilian security firm Walden Security asked Sheedy to work traffic control. The Kempner officer was responsible for redirecting traffic away from Fort Hood and blocking access to the post.

Sheedy arrived at Fort Hood about an hour after the shootings and planned to remain until traffic flow was back to normal and his services weren’t required any more, he said.

Sirens signalled the all-clear when Fort Hood reopened the post for traffic at 7:05 p.m., almost six hours after the shootings began. Family members scrambled to post schools and daycare centers to pick up their children and to their homes to check on family members and friends.

A number of prayer services and vigils were scheduled after Thursday’s events, including services Sunday at the Killeen Civic and Conference Center for soldiers, family and friends.

A moment of silence was declared Friday at 1:35 p.m. -- 24 hours after the shootings -- by the Heart of Texas Defense Alliance with participation requested from communities surrounding Fort Hood to honor those affected by the events and to show solidarity with the military post.

American flags flew at half-staff Friday to honor those who lost their lives in Thursday’s shootings.