Kimberly Munley ended Fort Hood rampage using Virginia Tech lessons

Christian Science Monitor ^ | 11/6/2009 | Patrick Jonsson

[Saije]

Lessons learned from the horrific Virginia Tech shootings in 2007 are credited with averting an even bigger massacre at Fort Hood, Texas, Thursday afternoon when police officer Kimberly Munley confronted the gunman without waiting for backup and took him down with four shots.

Reviews in the aftermath of the shootings at Virginia Tech, where 32 died, found that first responders' decision to be careful and wait for backup probably cost lives as that gunman moved unchecked from classroom to classroom as law enforcement massed outside.

Those findings had found their way to Fort Hood's Special Reaction Team, which had practiced an entirely new protocol for at least a year before Thursday afternoon's rampage here, in which 13 were killed and at least 28 wounded.

"The lesson from Virginia Tech was, don't wait for backup but move to the target and eliminate the shooter," says Chuck Medley, chief of Fort Hood's emergency services. "It requires courage and it requires skill."

The task on Thursday fell to the petite Ms. Munley, a civilian police officer employed by the Army at Fort Hood. Munley had taken part in intensive active-shooter training during the past year.

One of the first responders, she exited her car and entered the building as shots rang out. She rounded a corner, identified the shooter, and fired four times. He returned fire and hit her at least twice in the legs and once in the arm. She underwent surgery Friday but is said to be in good condition. It's unclear how many other responders were present and firing, but Munley's shots are believed to be the ones that stopped the alleged gunman, Army psychiatrist Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan.

[WVKayaker]

Did we make mistakes? Darned right we did, but we tried to learn from them so they wouldn’t be repeated.

A dear departed friend used to tell me ... "the only people that don't make mistakes are the people who don't do anything!"

[scoobysnak71]

Wow! I had heard he had been killed. My mistake. Thats what I get for being busy. Well, thats fine. Now, when he gets better, maybe I can shove a BLT down his worthless throat, BEFORE I pour pig blood on his POS grave. lol.

[2nd amendment mama]

Pink to this thread and to the article in post 48.

Have to go get ready for the long day ahead but didn’t want you to miss this.

[animal172]

What are you trying to say? Can you be more clear? /sar

[tioga]

I just checked Drudge.....he has not been declared dead. Last night in a presser it was announced he was transferred to a military hospital. Unless I am missing some major news this morning, he is still alive somewhere in a coma on a ventilator, but alive.

[tioga]

I see the FReepers already corrected your assumption, sorry to pile on. I, too, have some ideas for him........like tripping over the electrical cord of his ventilator.

[Kickass Conservative]

I’m not sure what your post was about. I was referring to the fact that an Armed Citizen can defend himself when the Police aren’t around.

I hope you didn’t think my comment was disparaging brave Police Officers such as yourself.

[browardchad]

Now, when he gets better, maybe I can shove a BLT down his worthless throat, BEFORE I pour pig blood on his POS grave.

Stealing shamelessly from a post on Belmont Club:

Bacon bandages, pork chop and/or hot bacon grease enemas, salt pork infusions, and a hospital menu based on pork “oysters” have been mentioned.

[animal172]

No, I know you weren’t trying to disparage the police. You are right in your assessment that a well armed citizen can defend himself. I have advocated for more years than I can remember the right of citizens to have the power and abiliity to defend thier homes and family. My point I guess is that it does take us time to get to the scene and sometimes it is too late. It’s hard to put into words what it is like to arrive at the scene of a tragedy and realize you were just a few minutes or seconds too late.

[islander-11]

Same training that I’ve received, Animal. As for going to the sound of the shots, the old saying is, ‘you don’t have to like it, you’ve just got to do it.’ I hope I never experience an active shooter situation, but if I do I hope that I exhibit the skill and bravery that this officer did.

[islander-11]

Same training that I’ve received, Animal. As for going to the sound of the shots, the old saying is, ‘you don’t have to like it, you’ve just got to do it.’ I hope I never experience an active shooter situation, but if I do I hope that I exhibit the skill and bravery that this officer did.

[animal172]

I’m sure if the situation ever arises, you will do the right thing. It’s why we do what we do contrary to what some think.

[Hot Tabasco]

He asked me why Muslim planes never got hijacked. When I said I didn’t know,

You should have answered by asking him who the hell would want to hijack a Muslim airplane, an Amish or a Presbyterian hijacker?