An Army psychiatrist accused in the Fort Hood shooting rampage is one step closer to facing a military trial and the death penalty. Thirteen people died in the shooting including a San Diego U.S. Army Reservist.
A brigade commander recommended Friday that Maj. Nidal Hasan be court-martialed and face the death penalty.
Hasan faces 13 counts of premeditated murder and 32 counts of attempted premeditated murder in the 2009 shootings.
San Diegan Capt. John Gaffaney was at the base preparing for a one-year deployment in Iraq with the U.S. Army Reserves when he was shot and killed on Nov. 5.
Gaffaney, 56, of Serra Mesa was described as a military man with a social worker's heart by the people who worked with him at the San Diego County Health and Human Services Dept.
Defense attorney John Galligan says he's disappointed in the recommendation and will raise objections before the final decision is made by a commanding general.
Col. Morgan Lamb's recommendation is the second in the case. Another colonel's initial recommendation last fall also was that Hasan should face trial and the death penalty.
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Army officials have not said whether they will seek the death penalty if Hasan goes to trial.
