United States Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that the military execution of Nidal Hasan by firing squad will be public and carried out by soldiers from Fort Hood, ara.cat reported. Hasan, a former military psychiatrist who killed 13 people and wounded 32 during a 2009 mass shooting at the Texas military base, received execution approval from U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday.
Fort Hood Execution Scheduled for December 3
The execution is scheduled for December 3. Speaking on the podcast Real America’s Voice, Hegseth defended the decision to make the event open to observation. “Ensuring people can witness it directly helps convey the severe consequences tied to such actions,” the defense chief said.
This proceeding marks the first time since at least 1945 that the U.S. military will carry out an execution under these conditions, according to data compiled by the Death Penalty Information Center. Historical records from the Army show the last military execution occurred in the early 1960s, when soldier John A. Bennet was hanged.
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A military tribunal convicted Hasan to death in 2013, after which he has been awaiting the final sentence.
Legal Framework for Firing Squad Executions
The U.S. president serves as commander-in-chief and holds final authority over the method of execution. While rare in modern practice, firing squads remain a legal method of capital punishment in five states: Idaho, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Utah. South Carolina carried out an execution by firing squad last year, marking the first time in 15 years that method was used in the United States.
The current administration has consistently signaled support for expanding capital punishment.
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