Shooter dead after wounding 2 at Fort Bliss store

[September 21, 2010]  FORT BLISS, Texas (AP) -- A person opened fire Monday at a convenience store on Fort Bliss, injuring two people before being killed by responding officers, the commander of the West Texas Army post said.

Col. Joseph A. Simonelli Jr. declined to discuss the conditions of the victims or other details of the shooting. Simonelli said the area was roped off for an FBI investigation, but the sprawling facility next to El Paso never was under lockdown.

Simonelli says the shooting was reported about 3 p.m. and authorities responded in about three minutes. He said the post's emergency notification system worked well, sending several messages to his cell phone.

"Our law enforcement agents took it upon themselves to react immediately and aggressively, and I think that's the main reason why this didn't escalate further than it is right now," Simonelli said.

The victims were taken to nearby William Beaumont Army Medical Center, said post spokesman Dieter Jester. Hospital officials declined to comment on the victims' conditions, referring questions to the FBI. An FBI spokesman said the agency wasn't releasing any details.

The victims were employees at the Army & Air Force Exchange Service, El Paso Mayor John Cook told the El Paso Times. The service runs merchandise operations for the military, including fast-food restaurants and convenience stores, according to the service's website.

[Associated Press]

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