Local Soldier reacts to shootings

Several military members from Hampton Roads are based out of Fort Hood. So, when they heard about the mass shooting, they waited anxiously to see if their loved ones were safe.

All day Thursday, Venus Marshall held onto her phone. She was waiting to hear from a familiar voice and to find out the latest on the tragedy in Texas.

"One of your buddies got shot four times?," Marshall asked her nephew.

Marshall's nephew, 19-year-old John Allen is stationed at Fort Hood. He, like many of his fellow soldiers, still can't believe what happened.

"I'm in shock, because I didn't think anything would happen," Allen said over the phone. "You think it would happen overseas, but I never thought it would be an actual war right here on post."

Allen is from Virginia Beach and a Kempsville High School grad. He is just getting ready for his first deployment.

"Five people from my unit got shot," Allen added, already finding out the meaning of loss.

"It was one of our own soldiers doing the shooting," Allen continued.

Military officials say the gunman is Major Nidal Malik Hasan. We're told he opened fire in a crowd killing 13 and injuring 30 more.

"It could have been me," Allen said. "I was scheduled to go SRP, but there was a change of plans."

"SRP" is the process a soldier goes though to get checked out before going on deployment. The office is in the area where the shooting happened. Allen could have been right there.

"That is the glory to God," Marshall added.

Marshall says even though her nephew wasn't hurt, there is still a sense of loss. It also serves as a reminder how precious life can be.

"I'm just thankful and prayerful that God will keep his hand on him," Marshall said.

Private Allen says he knows of five of his friends were shot. He was told at least two of them are in critical condition.