Fort Hood shooting suspect’s mental exam set before key hearing next week

Mental exam set for Fort Hood shooting suspect

FORT WORTH, Texas — A military officer has ordered that the Fort Hood shooting suspect receive a mental evaluation ahead of his hearing next week.

Col. Morgan Lamb on Monday ordered the evaluation for Maj. Nidal Hasan, who is accused of 13 counts of premeditated murder and 32 counts of attempted premeditated murder in the Nov. 5 shootings at the Texas Army post.

Hasan faces a hearing next week that is the military equivalent to grand jury proceedings. Lamb had previously said the exam would happen after the hearing.

Army officials appointed a three-member board of military mental health professionals earlier this year to determine whether Hasan is competent to stand trial.