Pentagon Confirms Firing Squad Execution for Fort Hood Shooter Nidal Hasan

Key points

• President Trump approved the execution of Nidal Malik Hasan by firing squad, a method recommended by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.
• Hasan, a former Army officer and psychiatrist, is responsible for the 2009 Fort Hood attack that killed 13 people and injured 32 others.
• This will be the first U.S. military execution since 1961 and the first by firing squad since Pvt. Eddie D. Slovik in 1945.
• Hasan admitted to the shooting in 2013, stating he acted in support of the Taliban, and was convicted by a military jury.
• The Secretary of the Army is responsible for setting the specific time and place for the execution, which will occur at Fort Leavenworth or another designated facility.

Background

Nidal Malik Hasan, born in northern Virginia, was a former Army major and psychiatrist who carried out a mass shooting at a Fort Hood readiness processing center on November 5, 2009. He used a semi-automatic handgun to kill 13 people, including a pregnant soldier, and wound 32 others while shouting 'Allahu Akbar.' Hasan was convicted by a military jury in August 2013 and sentenced to death. He has been incarcerated on death row at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, since his conviction. The last U.S. military execution was in 1961, when Pvt. John Bennett was hanged for rape and attempted murder.

Why it matters

The decision to execute Nidal Malik Hasan by firing squad represents a significant shift in U.S. military justice, marking the first such execution in over 80 years and the first military execution in over 60 years. It highlights the Trump administration's stance on military justice and the treatment of convicted terrorists. The method of execution, firing squad, has not been used by the U.S. Army since World War II, making this a historic and unprecedented event in modern military history.

What to watch

The Secretary of the Army will set the specific time and place for the execution. The Pentagon has not announced a specific date, but the execution is expected to take place in the near future. The decision may face legal challenges or protests from various groups, but the Pentagon has stated that the execution will proceed as planned.