Trump Approves Firing Squad Execution for 2009 Fort Hood Shooter Nidal Hasan

President Donald Trump Approves Firing Squad Execution for Fort Hood Gunman Nidal Malik Hasan

President Donald Trump has approved the execution of Nidal Malik Hasan by firing squad for the 2009 mass shooting at the Fort Hood military base in Texas, according to an announcement by the Pentagon. The approval changes US military justice and sets the stage for the first military execution since 1961.

The attack, which took place on November 5, 2009, inside a medical facility at the sprawling Texas base, left at least 13 people dead and 30 others injured. Hasan, who served as a US Army psychiatrist and major, targeted military personnel who were preparing for deployment to combat zones in Iraq and Afghanistan. Hasan shouted “Allahu Akbar” during the assault before he was shot and partially paralyzed by an arriving civilian police officer.

Pentagon Confirms Defense Secretary Recommendation and Presidential Approval

Pentagon officials confirmed the decision on social media, outlining the formal chain of command that led to the presidential sign-off. Sean Parnell, a Pentagon spokesperson, stated on the platform X that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recommended the punishment, which President Trump subsequently approved.

Parnell stated that the Secretary of the Army will determine the time and location of the execution. The attack occurred weeks before Hasan, who is 56 years old, was scheduled to be deployed to Afghanistan. During his trial, Hasan stated that there was sufficient provocation to deploy soldiers who would be involved in an illegal war. Trial disclosures indicated that Hasan opposed US military occupation in Iraq and Afghanistan and communicated online with Anwar al-Awlaki, a US citizen and radical cleric who was killed in a US drone strike in Yemen. A panel of 13 officers unanimously recommended the death sentence, and Hasan acknowledged his actions and apologized for his wrongdoing in court. Military executions cannot be carried out until approved by the president.

Hasan was convicted by a military court-martial panel in July 2013 on 13 counts of premeditated murder and 32 counts of attempted murder.

Historic Military Justice Precedent and Methods of Execution

If carried out as ordered, Hasan’s execution will represent the first time the US military has put an inmate to death since 1961. According to data from the Death Penalty Information Center, the last military execution occurred in 1961 when Private John Bennett was hanged at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, for rape and attempted murder. The last execution conducted specifically by a military firing squad took place in November 1945, when Private Eddie Slovik was shot for desertion during the final months of World War II.

The choice of a firing squad aligns with recent expansions in federal execution options. This policy shift follows growing difficulties in acquiring lethal injection drugs, a challenge highlighted by recent complications in state-level executions such as those in Tennessee. Following his return to office in January 2025, Trump directed the federal government to apply the death penalty for qualifying federal crimes, particularly the murder of law enforcement officers and crimes committed by individuals in the US illegally. At least five states have legal provisions for firing squad use, and South Carolina carried out the first such execution in the United States in 15 years during 2025. Meanwhile, Tennessee’s scheduled execution of Christa Pike via lethal injection failed when prison staff could not complete the procedure, leaving the inmate unconscious and on life support.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Nidal Malik Hasan Case

What military unit was Nidal Hasan assigned to during the 2009 attack?

Hasan served as a Major and psychiatrist in the US Army stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, a major mobilization point for troops heading to Iraq and Afghanistan.

When was the last time the US military executed a service member?

The US military last carried out an execution in 1961, when Private John Bennett was hanged at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, following a conviction for rape and attempted murder.