WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. Betty McCollum, D-Minn., extended her sympathies Friday to the family of U.S. Army Private First Class Kham Xiong, a resident of St. Paul who was killed during the Thursday shooting at the Fort Hood Army Base in Texas, which left at least 13 dead and 30 wounded.

“I wish to extend my deepest sympathies to the family of Private First Class Kham Xiong,” McCollum, who represents St. Paul, said in a statement.  “This senseless act of violence has resulted in a tremendous loss for the Xiong family, but also for residents of St. Paul, and indeed our entire nation. Private First Class Xiong was among the brave men and women in uniform who volunteer to serve and sacrifice in order to protect our nation’s freedom.  Congress and the entire country join the Xiong family in mourning this loss and we hold the memory of PFC Kham Xiong in our hearts.”

Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minn., who represents Minneapolis, also extended his “sincere condolences to the families of those killed or wounded in the horrific attack...

“My thoughts and prayers are with each and every one of them during this trying time. I join my fellow Members of Congress in saluting all the brave men and women who serve our country in uniform, and I am deeply saddened by this profound loss,” Ellison said in a statement. “I further want to recognize the heroic efforts on the part of those men and women who rose to the occasion in subduing the assailant.  Without their brave heroism, more lives might have been lost.  I would also like to thank the leadership of Fort Hood for their response to the tragedy and for maintaining calm and order. Right now, our top priority should be to support the victims and families and ensure the safety of all our military personnel.”