A U.S. Army spokesman says the Fort Hood shootings suspect is alive, and was not killed by authorities responding to the attack.

Lt. Gen. Bob Cone also says the death toll from the attack remains 12 after another victim died.

Authorities said immediately after Thursday's attack, they had killed the suspected shooter, Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan.

But Cone now says Hasan is alive and in stable condition.

Cone offered little explanation as to why the suspect was believed dead, saying only there was confusion at the hospital.

Hasan's cousin says his family is shocked and saddened by the tragedy.

Nader Hasan of Falls Church, Va., said in a statement issued late Thursday, he and his family are filled with grief for the families of the victims. Twelve people were killed and 31 were wounded in the attack.

Nader says Nidal Hasan's family knows little about what happened, but that they want to send "our most heartfelt sympathies" to the families of the victims. He also says Hasan was raised in America, and that his family loves and is proud of their country.

Meanwhile, one soldier at Fort Hood says troops are constantly ready for battle while deployed, but can't defend themselves while on post.

The Army says a mental health doctor opened fire at a medical screening center, killing at least twelve and wounding 31 others.

It was unclear what the motive was, though it appeared Hasan was upset about a scheduled deployment.

U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison says military officials told her the Army major was about to deployed overseas.

Retired Army Col. Terry Lee told Fox News he worked with Hasan, who had hoped President Barack Obama would pull troops out of Afghanistan and Iraq.

Lee said Hasan got into frequent arguments about the wars, and had tried hard to prevent his pending deployment.

Military officials say Hasan, a psychiatrist, had received a poor performance evaluation while working at the Army's Walter Reed hospital in Washington.

The Army says two soldiers taken into custody were released because they were not involved. A third person remains in custody.

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A law enforcement official says a shooting suspect at Fort Hood has been identified as Army Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan.

The official said Hasan, believed to be in his late 30s, was killed after opening fire at the base. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the case publicly.

The official says investigators are trying to determine if Hasan was his birth name, or if he changed his name and converted to the Islamic faith at some point in his life.

Stay connected to WBKO and WBKO.com for updates on this developing story.

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FORT HOOD, Texas (AP) -- A Fort Hood spokeswoman says one shooter is in custody after a mass shooting on the Texas Army base. Army officials say at least seven people are dead and 20 wounded.

Fort Hood spokeswoman Sgt. Rebekah Lampan says authorities believe at least two gunmen were involved in the attack on Thursday.

She says it is not known whether the shooters were soldiers or civilians.

Lt. Col. Nathan Banks, an Army spokesman in Washington, says there was a pair of shootings at the base.

Banks says the first shooting was at 1:30 p.m. and at personnel and medical processing office. He says the second incident took place at a theater on the base.