The United States military is set to publicly execute former Army Major Nidal Malik Hasan, the perpetrator of the 2009 Fort Hood mass shooting, by firing squad on December 3. This will mark the first military firing squad execution since World War II, according to US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.
Public Execution Announced
Speaking during an interview with conservative podcaster Jack Posobiec aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, Secretary Hegseth confirmed that the execution will be open to public view. “We’ll make sure that people are able to watch it, that it’s public, because people need to understand that there’s serious consequences for these types of things,” Hegseth said. He did not specify how the execution would be made accessible to the public.
The Pentagon announced earlier this week that President Donald Trump approved the recommendation for Hasan to be executed by firing squad, following Hegseth’s backing of the method. Acting Secretary of the Army Adam Telle fixed the execution for December 3 at 2 p.m. EST (1 p.m. CDT) at Fort Hood.
Details of the Execution
Hegseth revealed that the execution is deliberately scheduled to occur at almost the same time of day as the 2009 attack. “A Thursday, we’re going to do it at one o’clock, which is when he did it, and it’s going to be soldiers with rifles executing the firing squad,” he said.
Hasan was convicted in 2013 of 13 counts of premeditated murder and 32 counts of attempted murder. On November 5, 2009, he opened fire inside the Soldier Readiness Processing Center at Fort Hood, Texas, targeting soldiers preparing for deployment to Afghanistan. Prosecutors said he chased some victims outside the building before exchanging gunfire with police officers, who shot and arrested him.
Historical Context
The execution is historic for the US military. The last American service member executed by military authorities was Army Private John A. Bennett, who was hanged in 1961 after being convicted of rape and attempted murder while stationed in Austria. The last military execution by firing squad occurred even earlier: Army Private Eddie Slovik was executed in France on January 31, 1945, after being convicted of desertion during World War II.
Hegseth expressed support for reviving the wartime mindset of that era. “I like the mentality we had in World War II, which was win. Which was understand when the enemy attacks you, you stand your ground,” he said.
Impact and Significance
During his court-martial, Hasan admitted he deliberately targeted soldiers deploying to Afghanistan because he believed they were heading to fight in what he described as an “illegal war.” The upcoming execution is expected to draw significant attention, not only because of the method but also because it marks the return of a punishment the US military has not used in more than 80 years.
