Trump approves firing squad execution for 2009 Fort Hood gunman

The Department of War announced on Monday that President Trump has approved the death sentence for Nidal Malik Hasan, the gunman behind the 2009 Fort Hood shooting who has been on military death row for over a decade.

"Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has recommended – and President Donald J. Trump has approved – death by U.S. Army firing squad for convicted terrorist Nidal Malik Hasan, the jihadist who opened fire on unarmed American soldiers at Fort Hood in 2009," Department of War spokesperson Sean Parnell said in a statement.

Hasan, a former Army major and psychiatrist, carried out the attack on November 5, 2009, at the base's Soldier Readiness Processing Center, where troops were preparing for deployment. He shouted "Allahu Akbar" during the assault. Twelve military personnel and one civilian were killed. He was shot and taken into custody by civilian police officers.

A military jury convicted Hasan of 13 counts of premeditated murder and 32 counts of attempted premeditated murder in August 2013, and he was sentenced to death on August 28 of that year. He has been held on military death row at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

The execution would be the first carried out by the U.S. military since 1961, when Army Private John Bennett was hanged for rape and attempted murder. The method chosen is death by firing squad, which involves multiple shooters firing rifles at a restrained prisoner, typically aiming at the heart. Parnell's statement did not provide details about the procedures the Army will use, but said the Secretary of the Army will set the time and place of the execution.

"Judgement day for Hasan has finally come," Parnell added.

Analysis

Why This Matters

This would be the first execution by the U.S. military in 65 years, breaking a long-standing moratorium on military capital punishment.
The decision reignites debate over the use of the death penalty, particularly by firing squad, which some view as an archaic method.
The case has deep resonance for military families and the Fort Hood community, as the attack targeted unarmed soldiers preparing for deployment.

Background

The 2009 Fort Hood shooting was one of the deadliest attacks on a U.S. military installation. Hasan, a psychiatrist, opened fire in a processing center where soldiers were receiving medical screenings before deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan. He was convicted by a military jury and sentenced to death in 2013, but his appeals have been ongoing. The last military execution occurred in 1961, and since then, no president had approved a military execution. The decision comes as the Trump administration has taken a hard line on terrorism-related cases.

Key Perspectives

Victims' families and survivors: Many have waited over a decade for the sentence to be carried out. Some may see this as closure, while others might oppose capital punishment on moral grounds. Military justice system: The decision follows a lengthy legal process and suggests the administration is prioritizing carrying out military death sentences, potentially affecting other cases on military death row. Critics of capital punishment: Human rights groups and abolitionists argue that execution by firing squad is cruel and unusual punishment and that the U.S. military has not executed anyone in decades, raising questions about why this case was chosen.

What to Watch

The date and location set by the Secretary of the Army for the execution.
Potential legal challenges from Hasan's legal team, who may file last-minute appeals.
Reaction from international bodies and human rights organizations, which may condemn the use of firing squad execution.

Analysis

Why This Matters

Background

Key Perspectives

What to Watch

Sources