Lopez was carrying his semi-automatic weapon in a parking lot when confronted by the female officer, Fort Hood’s commanding officer told reporters.

“He was approaching her at about 20 feet. He put his hands up, then reached under his jacket, pulled out the (.45) and she pulled out her weapon and then she engaged, and he then he put the weapon to his head,” Lt. Gen. Mark Milley said late Wednesday.

The female police officer’s actions appeared to prompt the end of the killing spree.

“What she did was heroic,” Milley added. “She did her job and she did exactly what we’d expect from U.S. Army military police.”