A police officer and mother of one was hailed a heroine yesterday after it
emerged that she almost single handedly ended the massacre at America's
biggest military base.
Kimberly Munley does not look as if she would be much of a match for a heavily
armed US soldier on a murderous rampage. But the slightly built 34-year-old
civilian officer was first on the scene after Major Nidal Malik Hasan began
firing on comrades at Ford Hood in Texas as they prepared to deploy to
Afghanistan and Iraq. The 39-year-old psychologist killed 13 and left 31
others with serious injuries.
On Thursday afternoon Ms Munley was doing her usual job of directing traffic
on the sprawling base. By chance, she and her partner happened to walk past
the Soldiers' Readiness Processing Centre soon after Major Hasan -- armed
with two handguns -- cornered his fellow soldiers. Soldiers who witnessed the
rampage described the gunfire as continuous, methodical and well aimed.
Ms Munley succeeded in bringing him down by shooting him four times, even
after being hit by a bullet that passed through both her legs, according to
witnesses.
Her swift reaction and courage were being praised last night for preventing
many more deaths.
"It was an amazing and aggressive performance by this police officer," said
Lieutenant-General Robert Cone, Fort Hood's commanding officer. "The
critical factor here was her quick response to the situation."
Read more at the UK Times
