Local Muslim Community Reacts to Fort Hood Shootings
Some viewers are fearful of a possible backlash since the alleged gunman in the Fort Hood attack practiced Islam.

The alleged shooter, Major Nidal Malik Hasan was born and raised in Virginia.

Tonight, Imad Damaj, who runs the Virginia Muslim Coalition for Public Affairs said no political or religious ideology could ever justify what happened there. He tells CBS 6 the shootings had nothing to do with Islam, and more to do with mental illness.

I asked Damaj what went through his mind when he heard about the shootings? "Shock, pain..Why Would a man turn against his brothers and sisters in arms? And, when I heard the name I said "Oh, my God. Here we go again... Some people continuously want to frame it in the religious term, and it's not about his religion".

Damaj says he's well aware of reports that Hasan praised suicide bombers, and a day before the shooting gave his neighbor a copy of the Koran.

Damaj says "it's destructive to any faith because if it's Hasan, John or Mary or whatever ideology - when it's taken out of context, misunderstood it leads to very negative consequences".

Soon after the shooting, Damaj expressed his sadness on the coalition's website.

"These are citizens, these are people", says Damaj.