Former Army Major Nidal Hasan will face a military firing squad on December 3, 2026, at Fort Hood, Texas—the same location where he murdered 13 people and wounded 32 others in a 2009 terrorist attack. President Trump approved Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s recommendation to proceed with the first military execution in 65 years.
Execution Details Confirmed
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell notified victims’ families Monday evening through email, stating that judgment day has finally arrived for the 56-year-old convicted mass murderer. Hasan has spent 17 years on death row at Fort Leavenworth in Kansas since his conviction. Army regulations require presidential approval for military executions, with the method now designated by the Secretary of the Army rather than mandated lethal injection as previously required.
Families of the victims and survivors received advance notification and invitations to attend the execution. This group, united by tragedy for nearly two decades, views this as the final chapter in their long wait for justice.
The 2009 Attack
On November 5, 2009, Hasan opened fire at a Fort Hood readiness center where unarmed soldiers prepared for deployment. Witnesses reported hearing him shout before firing 146 rounds into the crowd. The attack killed 13 people, including 21-year-old Private Francheska Velez and her unborn child. Police returned fire during the attack, leaving Hasan paralyzed from the chest down.
At the time of the shooting, Hasan served as an Army psychiatrist with two decades of military service. His targets were defenseless service members in the final stages of deployment preparation.
Historic Military Execution
The last military execution occurred 65 years ago when the Army hanged Private John Bennett following his conviction for rape and attempted murder of an 11-year-old girl. The last firing squad execution happened during World War II, when Private Eddie Slovik faced death in France for desertion.
A 2019 revision to Army regulation 190-55 removed specific execution method requirements, granting the Secretary of the Army discretion based on recommendations from the provost marshal general. Upon presidential approval, condemned prisoners receive in-person notification from the commandant, accompanied by a chaplain and defense attorney when available.
Wonderful – A firing squad. More humane than sawing off his head with a serrated knife but I don’t think this country could take that. A firing squad – probably the best consequence ever for this type of beast.