Hasan's December 3 execution at Fort Hood set as first military firing squad since WWII

Key points

• Hasan's execution is scheduled for December 3, 2026, at Fort Hood, Texas, according to AP News and earlier archive reports.
• The firing squad method was recommended by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and approved by President Donald Trump, per NBC News and CNBC.
• This will be the first U.S. military execution since 1961 and the first by firing squad since World War II, per NBC News.
• Hasan, 56, was convicted in 2013 for the November 5, 2009, shooting that killed 13 and wounded 32 at Fort Hood, per CNBC.
• The Supreme Court denied Hasan's appeal in March 2025, clearing the way for execution, per CNBC.

Background

Hasan, a former Army psychiatrist, was convicted in 2013 after a court-martial for the 2009 Fort Hood shooting. He acted alone and was not linked to terrorist organizations, though prosecutors alleged he was motivated by a sense of duty to jihad and unwillingness to be deployed to Afghanistan. The case has been on death row for over a decade, with legal challenges including a Supreme Court appeal denied in 2025.

How outlets are covering it

AP News and archive reports emphasize the December 3 date and location at Fort Hood. NBC News and CNBC focus on the historical significance of the firing squad method and the approval process by Hegseth and Trump. CNBC notes Hasan's age (56) and the legal timeline, including the Supreme Court's 2025 denial of his appeal. All sources agree on the core facts but differ in emphasis: AP highlights the schedule, while NBC and CNBC stress the method's rarity and the political approval chain.

Why it matters

This execution ends a 65-year gap in U.S. military executions and revives a method not used since WWII, raising questions about military justice and the role of presidential approval in capital cases. It also closes a long-standing legal case that has been on death row since 2013.

What to watch

The Army Secretary will set the exact time and place for the execution, per NBC News. Legal challenges via habeas corpus may still be possible, per archive reports. The execution is expected to proceed as scheduled in December 2026 unless new legal obstacles arise.