Seventeen years after a gunman turned a military processing facility into a war zone, the United States military is staring down its first execution in over six decades. President Donald Trump has approved a U.S. Army firing squad to execute Nidal Hasan, the former Army major convicted of slaughtering 13 people and wounding 32 others at Fort Hood, Texas, back in November 2009.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recommended the unusual method of execution, and Pentagon officials confirmed the approval on social media. The Secretary of the Army will now determine the precise time and location for the sentence to be carried out at the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. For a different look, read: this related article.
If carried out, it marks the first time the U.S. military has executed a service member since 1961, when Pvt. John Bennett was hanged for the rape and attempted murder of a child.
The Anatomy of the 2009 Fort Hood Massacre
The tragedy unfolded on November 5, 2009, inside the Soldier Readiness Processing Center at Fort Hood. Troops were lined up for medical clearances ahead of deployment. Hasan, an Army psychiatrist, walked into the building armed with a laser-sighted handgun and opened fire while shouting "Allahu akbar." Related reporting on this trend has been published by Al Jazeera.
Thirteen lives were snuffed out in minutes, and dozens more were left with physical and psychological scars. A military jury convicted Hasan in 2013 on 13 counts of premeditated murder and 32 counts of attempted premeditated murder.
During his court-martial, Hasan adopted a bizarre posture. He represented himself, called zero witnesses, refused to testify, and didn't lift a finger to contest the charges. His court-appointed defense attorneys openly suggested he wanted a death sentence. Hasan later stated he carried out the attack because he viewed deploying U.S. soldiers as hostile actors working against the Islamic Empire.
Why a Firing Squad Changes the Conversation
Capital punishment inside the modern American military is exceptionally rare, and execution by firing squad is almost unheard of in federal or military jurisprudence. While military law historically permitted various methods, military death rows have sat stagnant for decades due to endless appeals, legal wrangling, and presidential sign-offs.
Four men currently sit on the military’s death row at Fort Leavenworth. President George W. Bush approved the execution of Army Spc. Ronald Gray back in 2008, but federal court injunctions put that on ice indefinitely. Hasan exhausted his final appeals in early 2025, clearing the legal runway for the current administration to act.
By selecting a firing squad rather than lethal injection—which has faced intense scrutiny, legal challenges, and logistical shortages nationwide—the Pentagon is bypassing the pharmaceutical hurdles that plague civilian corrections departments.
What Happens Next
The timeline is moving fast. With the Pentagon giving the green light, the Secretary of the Army holds the authority to set the clock ticking. Legal challenges from defense advocates are virtually guaranteed, but with all standard appeals exhausted, the legal runway has narrowed significantly.
For the survivors, the families of the fallen, and a military justice system that has delayed closure for nearly two decades, the decision brings an unprecedented chapter to a close. Judgement day has arrived.
