CMT News

Dierks Bentley Fan Is Hero Who Ended Fort Hood Shooting Spree

(Updated: Nov. 6, 2009, 7:30 p.m. ET)
In the aftermath of a shooting spree at Fort Hood, Texas, that killed 13 people and injured another 30, Dierks Bentley learned that he had a connection to the civilian police officer who stopped the rampage. The singer was featured in a photo with the officer, Kimberly Munley, that made its way to television news shows and the Internet. Bentley met Munley earlier this year during a meet-and-greet at a Fourth of July music festival at the U.S. Army post near Killeen, Texas. Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, an Army psychiatrist, opened fire Thursday (Nov. 5) at Fort Hood. Munley was at the scene within three minutes and shot Hasan in the upper torso, which allowed authorities to apprehend him. Munley was shot in the thighs and wrist. In a Twitter message sent Friday (Nov. 6), Bentley said he managed to contact Munley, who is still being treated at a Killeen-area hospital. Later, during an interview that appeared on ABC's World News With Charles Gibson, Bentley said, "I told her that she was in our prayers, and we wanted her to get a speedy recovery, and that we'll get down there when all the hoopla is over." Bentley added, "I feel like I should be asking for the meet-and-greet now because she's a hero. I'm just a country singer. She's a national hero."