PLYMOUTH — People who knew Justin DeCrow say they're in shock at the loss of the local man in the shootings at Fort Hood in Texas.

The 32-year-old Army Staff Sergeant was assigned to Fort Hood in September. He was scheduled for deployment to Iraq in the coming months.

As the headlines about the tragedy grip the nation, for Lacie Rans of Plymouth, the tragedy is hitting home.

"I just thought about our neighbors," said Rans. "We knew he was there. We didn't know if he was going to be OK or not," she said.

Now, Rans knows DeCrow was among the fatalities.

"I just really couldn't believe that it happened to him," Rans said.

Justin DeCrow was Rans' next door neighbor. He went to Plymouth High School with her brother. Rans also knew his high school sweetheart and wife of almost 14 years, Marikay.

Now, a community thousands of miles away from Texas is shocked and saddened.

"He was there like two months, he didn't even have his family there or anything," said Rans. "You don't think something like that would happen so close to home."

DeCrow visited his family in Plymouth a few months ago before he went to Fort Hood and talked with his father just days ago.

Daniel DeCrow issued a statement to WSBT News:

"As usual, the last words out of my mouth to him were that I was proud of him. That's what I said to him every time, that I loved him and I was proud of what he was doing. I can carry that around in my heart."

"It has to be a nightmare for them to go through," said Rans.

DeCrow's wife, Marikay, said Justin's memory and "infectious charm and wit that always put others at ease will be greatly missed."