Profile of suspect in military base shooting

Major Nidal Malik Hasan worked as an Army psychiatrist at Fort Hood in Texas before becoming the only suspect. Investigators are trying to piece together how and why Hasan allegedly gunned down fellow soldiers in the worst mass shooting at an American military base.

39-year-old Major Nidal Malik Hasan was born in Arlington, Virginia to Palestinian immigrants.

According to his aunt, Hasan had been harassed about being a Muslim since the 9-11 terrorist attacks.

Hasan was transferred to Fort Hood military base in July this year. Before moving to Texas, Hasan regularly attended services at the Muslim Community Center in Maryland.

Mosque members remember a quiet, private man who shunned social events.

Debbie Shankman, Muslim Community Center Attendee, said, "He just was very much to himself and in his own world."

Some who knew Hasan said he may have felt stressed about his pending deployment to Iraq or Afghanistan and his work with distressed soldiers.

His colleague and former neighbor, however, gave him high praise.

Colonel Kimberly Kesling, Darnall Army Medical Center, said, "He was a hard-working, dedicated young man who gave great care to his patients."

Konstanaoupolus, Hasan's former neighbor, said, "He talked to me every morning, every night to see me. He's quite a good guy."

Hasan's family said in a statement on Friday that his alleged actions were "despicable and deplorable" and did not reflect how the family's values.