Asia-Pacific

Fort Hood suspect charged with attempted murder

(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-12-03 05:16

FORT WORTH: The Army has charged the suspect in the Fort Hood shooting spree with 32 counts of attempted premeditated murder.

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The charges are in addition to the 13 premeditated murder charges filed against Maj. Nidal (Nee-DAHL) Hasan (Huh-SAHN') in the Nov. 5 massacre at Fort Hood.

The Army says the attempted murder charges filed Wednesday are related to the 30 soldiers and two civilian police officers injured in the shooting at a soldier processing center on the central Texas post.

Hasan's attorney, John Galligan, says the additional charges may not affect Hasan's punishment if he is convicted, because premeditated murder carries the death penalty.

Authorities haven't said whether they plan to seek the death penalty.