Shooting turns Fort Hood Street into a 'ghost town' Posted On: Friday, Nov. 6 2009 05:07 AM By Matt Goodman
Killeen Daily Herald

The ripple effect of Thursday's shooting at Fort Hood shook employees working at businesses near post in Killeen and Copperas Cove.

Beautician Malaika Marler walked back into work at Cameroon African Hair Braiding on North Fort Hood Street, hurriedly closed the door and asked, "Mind if I lock this?"

The salon borders Fort Hood's East Gate and is about four miles from the Soldier Readiness Processing site where the shooting took place. Marler bolted the glass door as soon as Fort Hood was locked down about 2 p.m.

"My first reaction was, 'that's the base,'" she said, pointing across the street to Fort Hood. "I'm still shaking. We've been opening and closing the door; when someone comes near we want to know what they want."

About 5 p.m., Fort Hood Street is usually a wall of vehicles. Customers routinely frequent the gas stations, beauty salons and restaurants that accent it. But Thursday, area employees described the street as a "ghost town."

"It's been empty today," said Sel Metolioij, owner of Joe's Pizza and Pasta on North Fort Hood Street. "Most of my customers are soldiers. I feel bad, man, especially for the families. When soldiers come home, they're supposed to feel safe."

But stores near post remained open.

Robin Parsons, an employee at East Gate Cleaners on North Fort Hood Street, was busy drying a stack of berets. The news blared on a small television behind her, and she said she felt secure enough to stay open.

"We're not considering closing," she said. "We've been hearing the sirens and following the news reports but we're staying open for the soldiers."

Businesses in Copperas Cove had more distance between them and the rampage, but were no more busy than those bordering the East Gate. Maria Daw, a nail technician at Happy Nails and Spa on Constitution Drive, said the news reports were confirmed by the traffic at the salon: no customers came in after 3 p.m.

"Usually that's when the military gets out," she said. "But today, nobody was let out."

At Cato, a nearby women's clothing store, manager Samantha Sosnowski said that the empty store didn't just reflect the lockdown, but also shifting priorities.

"You could tell when everything was changing," she said. "I don't think shopping was their concern."

Contact Matt Goodman at mgoodman@kdhnews.com or (254) 501-7550.