Hood officials downplay mental issues as details of leave argument emerge

Hood officials downplay mental issues as details of leave argument emerge
Stars and Stripes
By Jennifer Hlad
Published: April 4, 2014

FORT HOOD, Texas — Investigators believe that an escalating argument Wednesday afternoon was the “precipitating event” to the shootings that left four soldiers, including the shooter, dead and 16 more injured, Lt. Gen. Mark A. Milley said Friday.

Spc. Ivan Lopez was being treated for depression and other mental issues, and Milley on Thursday said there is “strong evidence that he had a medical history that indicates an unstable psychiatric or psychological condition.” However, Milley said, Lopez’s underlying medical conditions are now not believed to have been the “immediate precipitating factor” that caused the shooting.

The New York Times on Friday reported that Lopez met with superiors Wednesday about a leave request that had been denied. A law enforcement source told the Times that Lopez was acting agitated and disrespectful after the meeting.

Milley, the commander of the post and of III Corps, and Chris Grey, spokesman for the Army’s Criminal Investigation Command, said they could not offer details about the argument, but said some of the soldiers injured in the gunfire were involved in the verbal altercation.
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