By Joe Crankshaw
ST. LUCIE COUNTY,FL--Two former St. Lucie County residents, Staff Sgt. Owen Dennis Jr., and Spc. Diedra Hogan Lewis, were at Fort Hood Army post in Texas Thursday, when Maj. Midal Malik Hassan opened fire with a handgun, killing 13 people and wounding 30 at a Soldier Readiness Center.
Hassan’s assault was cut short, according to Fort Hood authorities, by base Police Officer Kimberly Munley, who disabled him with four shots. He is now under guard in the hospital.
“I was shocked, like everyone,” said Annie Kate Jackson of Fort Pierce, Lewis’ grandmother. “I think it was horrible. You know they might be hurt overseas, but not at home.”
Jackson said she called her granddaughter. “Someone else answered and I was afraid,” she said. “Then they told me she was busy. Her commanding officer had her calling all of her other unit members to make sure they were all right.”
Lewis, 31, assigned to an Army signal company, said Friday she had been in a class about five blocks from where the shooting took place.
“We didn’t hear anything, but when we came out of class, all these helicopters were flying around. They told us to go back in the building and stay until they said we could come out. We were there until about 7:30 p.m.”
Lewis said her unit had sent 10 soldiers through the center last week. “We were glad they were not there Thursday.”
A veteran of 14 years’ service, Lewis was expecting to go the Afghanistan, but when she found out she’s pregnant, she was assigned to a support job at the fort. She grew up in Fort Pierce, but now has a permanent residence in Dallas, Ga.
Dennis’ parents live in Port St. Lucie. His parents said via an e-mail that their son lives in Killeen, Texas, near Fort Hood. Efforts to find out if he is OK were unsuccessful Friday evening.
U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney, R., Tequesta, issued a statement noting that he had served in the Judge Advocate General Corps, the Army’s legal service, at Fort Hood.
“My wife Tara and I send our condolences to the victims’ families of the horrific shooting at Fort Hood. Tara and I both served as Army JAG officers at Fort Hood for two years — the base and the dedicated men and women in uniform stationed there will always hold a special place in our hearts.”
