The Pentagon has announced that Nidal Hasan will be executed by firing squad in December at Fort Hood, where he killed 13 people in 2009, in the US military's first firing squad execution since World War II.
Key facts
- Nidal Hasan is scheduled to be executed by firing squad in December at Fort Hood.
- Hasan killed 13 people at Fort Hood in 2009.
- It would be the US military's first firing squad execution since World War II.
- The announcement came days after a botched lethal injection in Tennessee, according to NPR.
The Pentagon has announced that Nidal Hasan will be executed by firing squad in December at Fort Hood, the site where he killed 13 people in 2009, according to NPR. The execution, approved by President Trump, would be the US military’s first use of a firing squad since World War II.
Hasan was convicted in connection with the 2009 shooting at Fort Hood, a US Army post, in which 13 people were killed. The Pentagon’s announcement sets the execution for December at the same base.
According to NPR, the announcement came just days after a botched lethal injection in Tennessee, drawing fresh attention to the methods used to carry out death sentences in the United States.
The decision marks a notable departure from the lethal injection protocols that have been standard for US executions in recent decades. A firing squad has not been used by the military for an execution since the era of World War II, according to NPR’s reporting.
The Pentagon identified Fort Hood as the location for the execution, placing the event at the scene of the 2009 killings.
Why it matters
The decision revives a method of execution the US military has not used since World War II, raising questions about how capital punishment is carried out. Its timing, following a botched lethal injection in another state, places renewed scrutiny on execution methods nationwide.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Nidal Hasan?
According to NPR, Nidal Hasan killed 13 people at Fort Hood in 2009 and is now scheduled to be executed by firing squad in December.
When and where will the execution take place?
The Pentagon says the execution is set for December at Fort Hood, the site of the 2009 killings.
Why is a firing squad being used?
The sources do not detail the reasoning, but note the announcement came days after a botched lethal injection in Tennessee. The execution would be the military's first firing squad use since World War II.