The Pentagon has said it will livestream the firing squad execution of Nidal Hasan, convicted over the 2009 mass shooting at Fort Hood, Texas, according to NPR. If carried out at the base, it would be the first public execution in the United States since the 1930s.
Key facts
- The Pentagon says it will livestream the firing squad execution of Nidal Hasan, according to NPR.
- The execution is set to take place at Fort Hood, the site of the 2009 mass shooting.
- It would be the first public execution in the U.S. since the 1930s, NPR reported.
- The method of execution would be a firing squad.
The Pentagon has said it will livestream the firing squad execution of Nidal Hasan at Fort Hood, according to NPR. Fort Hood, in Texas, was the site of the 2009 mass shooting over which Hasan was convicted.
If the execution goes ahead as described, it would be the first public execution carried out in the United States since the 1930s, NPR reported. The last such public executions in the country took place nearly a century ago.
The planned execution is set to be conducted by firing squad, according to NPR.
NPR reports the execution is to be held at Fort Hood, the same base where the 2009 shooting occurred.
Why it matters
A livestreamed public execution would break with nearly a century of U.S. practice, during which executions have generally been conducted away from public view. The plan raises questions about transparency, the ethics of broadcasting capital punishment, and how the military handles high-profile cases.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Nidal Hasan?
According to NPR, Nidal Hasan was responsible for the 2009 mass shooting at Fort Hood, a military installation in Texas.
When was the last public execution in the U.S.?
NPR reports that the last public execution in the United States took place in the 1930s, making this planned event the first in nearly a century.
What method of execution is planned?
The Pentagon says the execution would be carried out by firing squad, according to NPR.