'It's Really Scary': Texas College Students React to Fort Hood Shootings

Stephanie Hughes sat watching coverage of the Fort Hood shooting on television Thursday in the Syndicate at the University of North Texas. An ROTC cadet, Hughes has friends stationed at Fort Hood.

"It's really scary," she said, not taking her eyes off the TV. "It was where they were about to be deployed. Their families were scared enough as it is."

Hughes, a kinesiology junior, said she was surprised that the suspected shooter, an Army psychiatrist, would be capable of such a thing. Students across campus have had a strong emotional response to the emerging details about the shooting.

Lt. Gen. Bob Cone, the Fort Hood commander, said Thursday evening it was important for Americans to cope with the aftermath through grief counseling and security.

Gov. Rick Perry, speaking at a press conference Thursday afternoon at UNT's Gateway Center, said "today's events are just a reminder for all of us about the important relationship that we have with our military in the state of Texas."

"Those communities where those military bases are specifically are a great support mechanisms for the men and women of our military."

To honor the victims, Perry ordered all flags across the state to be flown at half-staff until Sunday.

Cone said his primary concerns right now are caring for the wounded and increasing security on the military base.

"This post is no longer locked down as you can see, but we will continue to operate at a heightened level of security, as well as continue to investigate to insure that no threats remain," Cone said. "We will continue to focus on casualty assistance efforts, including casualty notification and grief counseling."

Marine reserve Cory Sockwell believed the base should have had enough security to prevent an event like this from happening. "To tell you the truth, I'm angry," said Sockwell, a political science sophomore.

"Soldiers are already out in Iraq being shot at, and they shouldn't have to deal with it here," he said. "As a military person, I hate seeing other military people killed like that."

The above story is an edited version of Amber Arnold's reporting on the Fort Hood shooting for the North Texas Daily, the University of North Texas's student newspaper.