Courtney Browen

That afternoon, the Bell County Communications Center would be bombarded with so many phone calls, they couldn't even handle the influx of calls. Eventually, when people started dialing 911, they were met with a busy signal. And before help could arrive, more people would lose their lives, including 51-year-old Captain Russell Gilbert Seeger,

That afternoon, the Bell County Communications Center would be bombarded with so many phone calls, they couldn't even handle the influx of calls. Eventually, when people started dialing 911, they were met with a busy signal. And before help could arrive, more people would lose their lives, including 51-year-old Captain Russell Gilbert Seeger,

That afternoon, the Bell County Communications Center would be bombarded with so many phone calls, they couldn't even handle the influx of calls. Eventually, when people started dialing 911, they were met with a busy signal. And before help could arrive, more people would lose their lives, including 51-year-old Captain Russell Gilbert Seeger,

Another person in the back offices was Nurse Shamaka Hairston. She had been giving a soldier a vaccination when she heard what sounded like firecrackers in the main room. She would later say, quote, "'I tried to peer over the partition, but it was too high, and I couldn't see anything. I saw a lot of smoke and the smell.'" It smelled like ammunition.

Another person in the back offices was Nurse Shamaka Hairston. She had been giving a soldier a vaccination when she heard what sounded like firecrackers in the main room. She would later say, quote, "'I tried to peer over the partition, but it was too high, and I couldn't see anything. I saw a lot of smoke and the smell.'" It smelled like ammunition.

Another person in the back offices was Nurse Shamaka Hairston. She had been giving a soldier a vaccination when she heard what sounded like firecrackers in the main room. She would later say, quote, "'I tried to peer over the partition, but it was too high, and I couldn't see anything. I saw a lot of smoke and the smell.'" It smelled like ammunition.

It smelled like you were in a shooting range, end quote. But at that moment, she knew that this was a mass shooting. So immediately, Shamaka grabbed her phone and dialed 911. When the dispatcher answered, she quickly told them that someone was shooting people at Fort Hood Soldier Readiness Processing Center.

It smelled like you were in a shooting range, end quote. But at that moment, she knew that this was a mass shooting. So immediately, Shamaka grabbed her phone and dialed 911. When the dispatcher answered, she quickly told them that someone was shooting people at Fort Hood Soldier Readiness Processing Center.

It smelled like you were in a shooting range, end quote. But at that moment, she knew that this was a mass shooting. So immediately, Shamaka grabbed her phone and dialed 911. When the dispatcher answered, she quickly told them that someone was shooting people at Fort Hood Soldier Readiness Processing Center.

Horrifically, in the back of the phone call, the dispatcher could hear screaming, hysterical sobs, and loud popping noises. Shimaka cried into the phone as the dispatcher asked her questions. She stated, quote, I don't know. A soldier just started shooting. We don't know who he is. Some guy with a weapon just started randomly shooting, end quote.

Horrifically, in the back of the phone call, the dispatcher could hear screaming, hysterical sobs, and loud popping noises. Shimaka cried into the phone as the dispatcher asked her questions. She stated, quote, I don't know. A soldier just started shooting. We don't know who he is. Some guy with a weapon just started randomly shooting, end quote.

Horrifically, in the back of the phone call, the dispatcher could hear screaming, hysterical sobs, and loud popping noises. Shimaka cried into the phone as the dispatcher asked her questions. She stated, quote, I don't know. A soldier just started shooting. We don't know who he is. Some guy with a weapon just started randomly shooting, end quote.

Now, by this point, she was hiding under a desk with a few other nurses and three soldiers, 32-year-old Justin DeCrow, 22-year-old J.D. Hunt, and 22-year-old Michael Pearson. And then suddenly, the five of them all heard the sound of slow and deliberate footsteps coming in their direction.

Now, by this point, she was hiding under a desk with a few other nurses and three soldiers, 32-year-old Justin DeCrow, 22-year-old J.D. Hunt, and 22-year-old Michael Pearson. And then suddenly, the five of them all heard the sound of slow and deliberate footsteps coming in their direction.

Now, by this point, she was hiding under a desk with a few other nurses and three soldiers, 32-year-old Justin DeCrow, 22-year-old J.D. Hunt, and 22-year-old Michael Pearson. And then suddenly, the five of them all heard the sound of slow and deliberate footsteps coming in their direction.

Eerily, they knew the gunman was coming because a spent shell casing had become stuck in the tread of his shoe. One of the nurses hiding under the desk, Theodore Kakoulis, said that they could hear the clink of the shell casing getting closer. But at that moment, The three soldiers hiding with them decided to confront the gunmen.

Eerily, they knew the gunman was coming because a spent shell casing had become stuck in the tread of his shoe. One of the nurses hiding under the desk, Theodore Kakoulis, said that they could hear the clink of the shell casing getting closer. But at that moment, The three soldiers hiding with them decided to confront the gunmen.

Eerily, they knew the gunman was coming because a spent shell casing had become stuck in the tread of his shoe. One of the nurses hiding under the desk, Theodore Kakoulis, said that they could hear the clink of the shell casing getting closer. But at that moment, The three soldiers hiding with them decided to confront the gunmen.

Theodore would later say, quote, all three looked directly at the shooter. They were looking at death and they knew it. These kids just stood their ground. They didn't even flinch. They weren't afraid of him. But sadly, like all the others before them, the gunman quickly aimed his gun and released a wave of bullets in their direction.

Theodore would later say, quote, all three looked directly at the shooter. They were looking at death and they knew it. These kids just stood their ground. They didn't even flinch. They weren't afraid of him. But sadly, like all the others before them, the gunman quickly aimed his gun and released a wave of bullets in their direction.