Police Say Fort Hood Soldier Killed His Lieutenant

KILLEEN, Texas (AP) – A Fort Hood soldier shot to death his lieutenant during a confrontation at his off-base apartment Monday, then killed himself, police said.

The lieutenant and a staff sergeant went to the Army specialist’s apartment, and a confrontation ensued. Killeen police officers responded, and they witnessed the specialist shoot the lieutenant, Killeen police said.

The officers returned fire, but the specialist shot himself in the head, police said. Autopsies have been ordered on both men. The staff sergeant was not injured.

The identities of the men and their unit were withheld pending notification of their families.

The unit is training currently and not scheduled to deploy for several months, said Maj. Jay Adams, a Fort Hood spokesman.

Killeen police are leading the investigation, but Fort Hood’s criminal investigators are coordinating, he said.

Adams said it was too early to say whether there were any problems between the soldier and officers leading up to Monday’s confrontation.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)