Yuma soldiers at Fort Hood OK after shooting spree
All of the soldiers, including two from Yuma, who are serving in the Arizona National Guard's 158th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion and are training in Fort Hood were not involved with the incident that occurred there today.
A soldier opened fire at a U.S. Army base in Fort Hood, Texas on Thursday, unleashing a stream of gunfire that and left 12 people dead and 31 wounded. Although it was thought authorities had killed the gunman, he is reported to be alive and in stable condition. Authorities also apprehended two other soldiers suspected in what appears to be the worst mass shooting at a U.S. military base.
Maj. Paul Aguirre, of Arizona National Guard Public Affairs in Phoenix, said he was in contact with the unit's leadership on Thursday and all 86 soldiers are accounted for and unharmed.
The Yuma soldiers serving in the unit are Chief Warrant Officer 2 Eric Gaines and Spec. Alejandra Alverado.
"Those are the only two soldiers who I can say definitively have their home of record listed as Yuma," said Maj. Paul Aguirre, of Arizona National Guard Public Affairs in Phoenix.
A departure ceremony for the 158th was held in Tucson on Oct. 30. The soldiers left the state the following day.
Aguirre said the unit will be leaving for deployment to Afghanistan upon completion of their mobilization training at Fort Hood, which should be about 60 days.
Most of those killed during the shooting spree were also soldiers, according to the briefing by Lt. Gen. Robert Cone, the post commander.
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James Gilbert can be reached at jgilbert@yumasun.com or 539-6854.
