The Pentagon says the execution of Fort Hood shooter Nidal Malik Hasan will be livestreamed. Hasan, a former Army major and psychiatrist who killed 13 people and wounded 32 at the Texas base on Nov. 5, 2009, is scheduled to die by firing squad at Fort Hood on Dec. 3. It would be the first time the U.S. military has carried out an execution by firing squad since World War II.
Key facts
- Who: Nidal Malik Hasan, former U.S. Army major and psychiatrist.
- Crime: Killed 13 people and wounded 32 at Fort Hood, Texas, on Nov. 5, 2009.
- Sentence: Convicted by a military jury in 2013 and sentenced to death.
- Execution date: Dec. 3, 2026, at 1 p.m. local time at Fort Hood, by firing squad.
- Approved by: President Trump, on the recommendation of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
- New on Oct. 8: The Defense Department says the execution will be livestreamed.
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What the Pentagon announced
On Monday, Oct. 5, the Pentagon said President Trump had approved Hasan’s death sentence and the firing squad method recommended by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said, “Judgement day for Hasan has finally come.” The commandant of the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks will oversee the execution.
Hegseth first described the execution as “public.” On Thursday, Oct. 8, the Defense Department clarified that it will be livestreamed instead, and said more details would come later. It has not said who will be able to watch or on what platform.
Why this execution is historic
The U.S. military has not executed anyone since 1961, when Army Pvt. John Bennett was hanged. The last military execution by firing squad was in 1945, when Pvt. Eddie Slovik was shot for desertion during World War II. A livestreamed execution would also be a first for the U.S. government.
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| Nov. 5, 2009 | Hasan opens fire at Fort Hood’s Soldier Readiness Processing Center: 13 killed, 32 wounded |
| Aug. 2013 | Military jury convicts Hasan of 13 counts of premeditated murder and 32 counts of attempted murder; he is sentenced to death |
| Oct. 5, 2026 | Pentagon says Trump approved the death sentence and a firing squad |
| Oct. 8, 2026 | Pentagon says the execution will be livestreamed |
| Dec. 3, 2026 | Scheduled execution at Fort Hood, 1 p.m. local time |
Could the execution still be delayed?
Yes. Military law experts say Hasan could file a habeas corpus petition in civilian federal court, which could delay the execution significantly. Hasan represented himself at his 2013 court-martial, and it is not yet known whether he or lawyers acting for him will challenge the sentence or the firing squad method.
A livestream is also likely to draw legal and ethical objections. Critics are expected to argue it turns an execution into a spectacle, while supporters say the families of the victims have waited 17 years for the sentence to be carried out.
Remembering the 13 victims
The 2009 attack is still one of the deadliest mass shootings on a U.S. military base. Twelve soldiers and one civilian employee were killed at the base’s Soldier Readiness Processing Center, where troops were preparing to deploy. A permanent memorial to the victims stands at the base in Killeen, Texas.
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Frequently asked questions
When will Nidal Hasan be executed?
The Pentagon has scheduled the execution for Dec. 3, 2026, at 1 p.m. local time at Fort Hood, Texas.
Will the Fort Hood shooter’s execution be shown live?
Yes. On Oct. 8 the Defense Department said the execution will be livestreamed. Details on how to watch have not been released.
Why a firing squad?
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recommended the method and President Trump approved it. It would be the first military firing squad execution since 1945.
How many people did Hasan kill?
Hasan killed 13 people and wounded 32 at Fort Hood on Nov. 5, 2009.
