Pentagon Authorizes Firing Squad Execution for Fort Hood Shooter Nidal Hasan
The Trump administration has approved a firing squad execution for Nidal Hasan, the former Army major convicted in the 2009 Fort Hood massacre.
POLICY WIRE — Washington, D.C. — The Trump administration has greenlit a plan to carry out the execution of former Army Maj. Nidal Hasan via firing squad, according to a statement released late Monday by chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell.
Parnell confirmed on social media that the proposal to utilize an Army firing squad originated as a recommendation from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and subsequently received formal approval from President Trump.
Regarding the timeline for the procedure, Parnell noted that the Secretary of the Army will determine the specific time and location for the execution, adding that judgment day for Hasan has finally come.
Hasan, a former Army psychiatrist, was found guilty in a 2013 court-martial for the murders of 13 individuals and the wounding of over 30 others during the 2009 attack at Fort Hood. During his trial, Hasan admitted to the shootings, asserting that his actions were intended to shield Islamic insurgents from the U.S. military.
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If carried out, this would represent the first military execution of an American service member since 1961, when a soldier was executed by hanging for the rape and attempted murder of an 11-year-old girl. The use of a firing squad remains a rare practice, though it was utilized three times in South Carolina last year, marking the first such instances in the United States since 2010.
While the federal government generally relies on lethal injection for civilian capital cases, the Justice Department indicated earlier this year that officials should evaluate alternative methods, including electrocution, lethal gas, and firing squads.
The move follows a protracted appeals process for Hasan, who famously opted to represent himself during his trial. His legal proceedings were marked by friction with his court-appointed standby attorneys, who expressed concerns that Hasan was actively pursuing a death sentence.
In 2024, Hasan petitioned the Supreme Court to review his case, contending that the presiding judge infringed upon his right to a public trial by excluding the public from the courtroom during discussions regarding his attorneys. The Supreme Court declined to hear the appeal last year.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
