A cousin of the army psychiatrist who went on a shooting rampage that killed 13 people in Fort Hood, Texas, expressed shock over the event, in a statement released Friday.

Nader Hasan is a first cousin of the shooter, Major Nidal Malik Hasan, 39, a Muslim army-trained specialist in combat stress.

- I wanted to issue a statement on behalf of my family - Nader Hasan said in a message posted on The Washington Post website, noting that he was writing because the shooter's parents had died.

- We are shocked and saddened by the terrible events at Fort Hood today. We send the families of the victims our most heartfelt sympathies. -

Nader Hasan said that his cousin was US citizen "born in Arlington, Virginia and raised here in America. He attended local high schools and eventually went on to attend Virginia Tech (University).

- We are filled with grief for the families of today's victims. Our family loves America. We are proud of our country, and saddened by today's tragedy. Because this situation is still unfolding, we have nothing else that we are able to share with you at this time - read the statement.

Nader Hasan told The New York Times that his cousin was "mortified by the idea of having to deploy" to Iraq or Afghanistan.

- He wanted to do whatever he could within the rules to make sure he wouldn't go over - Nader Hasan said, adding that his cousin had retained a lawyer and sought to get out of the army before the end of his contract.

The shooter was born in the United States to Palestinian parents who had moved from a small town near Jerusalem.

Nidal Hasan's aunt, Noel Hasan, told The Washington Post that the major, who she described as a devout Muslim, had been subjected to harassment about his faith since the September 11, 2001 attacks and had repeatedly sought to be discharged from the army.

Hasan was under guard and in stable condition on a ventilator at a civilian hospital after being shot and seriously wounded during Thursday's bloodshed, but has not spoken about his actions, officials said.