04/05/2014
It’s the second shooting in Fort Hood and both times Jerry Maldonado was stationed there. He survived, but this time he lost a friend.
Jerry says since the shooting on April 2nd, tensions are high over there because the alleged shooter is one of their own.
"It’s just so sad that one of your own you know did that,” Jerry Maldonado said. “You trust one another, that’s all we got out there.”
Maldonado said he was in final formation when he heard a familiar sound, a weapon discharging.
Seconds later a soldier runs towards him saying to take cover
“You make sure that everybody around you is moving at a fast pace out of the kill zone,” Jerry Maldonado said. “You make sure that nobody goes down and you make sure you get yourself out."
Maldonado says he was approximately 500 yards from the shooter.
The hours that follow he was being questioned and wasn’t able to communicate with his family.
In Brownsville, Steven Maldonado, his brother and father figure, was desperately trying to get a hold of Jerry.
“I started texting left and right, calling my sister-in-law, finding out any information in how my brother is," Steven Maldonado said.
For eight hours, Steven Maldonado feared the worst and prayed.
"Oh please God take care of him," Steven Maldonado said.
It wasn’t until around 1 a.m. that Steven finally got a call from Jerry.
"And when he called me was like a deep breath, deep breaths just thankful that I could hear him," Steven Maldonado said.
Since the shooting, Jerry and Steven have spoken on a regular basis.
Steven tells Action 4 that they are thankful their brother survived once again but they are still in shock.
Soldiers and staff in Fort Hood are currently receiving counseling.
Jerry Maldonado has been in the military for over 20 years, and he served four tours.
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