Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said Thursday, Oct. 8, that the public will be able to watch the execution of Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan by firing squad, according to multiple news reports.
Hasan is scheduled to be executed on Dec. 3 at Fort Hood, near Killeen, Texas. The announcement marks the first time in decades that the U.S. military has planned to carry out a death sentence, and the first by firing squad since the end of World War II. The Department of War later confirmed that the execution would be livestreamed, according to the Associated Press [1].
Background: 2009 Fort Hood Shooting and Conviction
Nidal Hasan was convicted of killing 13 people in the 2009 shooting at Fort Hood. He was an Army major and psychiatrist stationed at the base when he opened fire on unarmed soldiers, according to the Epoch Times [2]. The attack also wounded 32 others, the report stated.
Hasan was convicted in 2013 on multiple counts of murder and attempted murder, according to Just the News [3]. The execution is scheduled for Dec. 3 at the same base where the crime occurred. This would be the first U.S. military execution since 1961, when U.S. Army Private John A. Bennett was hanged in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.
Pentagon Says Execution Will Be Livestreamed, Details Unclear
The War Department says the execution will be livestreamed but did not name where specifically the stream will be hosted, according to Axios [4]. The agency currently posts speeches and videos on X and YouTube.
The War Department declined to comment on Hegseth's remarks, leaving questions about how the public could watch the execution, Axios reported [4]. It is unclear if Hegseth's remarks mean the execution will be open to public spectators, broadcast on streaming or TV, or made available to select individuals. Agency officials clarified that more details would follow, according to KOB [5].
Firing Squad Executions Are Rare in the U.S.
Only Idaho, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Utah authorize the firing squad method, according to the Death Penalty Information Center. Last year, South Carolina carried out the state's first firing squad execution – the first in the U.S. in 15 years.
The last U.S. military execution by firing squad was in 1945, when Pvt. Eddie Slovik was shot for desertion in France, according to NPR. The last public execution in the U.S. was in 1936, when Rainey Bethea, a Black man convicted of raping a White woman, was hanged in Kentucky.
Hegseth said the decision to shoot Hasan by firing squad, as well as other details of the execution, were chosen for their symbolism, according to the New York Times [6]. "Of course we're going to do it at Fort Hood," Hegseth said.
What Remains Unknown Ahead of Dec. 3 Execution
The method of public access remains unspecified as of Thursday. The War Department and the U.S. Army have not provided a venue, platform, or eligibility criteria for viewers. Officials have not said whether media or the general public will be permitted.
References
- Pentagon says the firing squad execution of Fort Hood shooter Nidal .... https://apnews.com/article/fort-hood-shooter-execution-pentagon-818853afc1be5c70fe41c5b781a8d559
- Army Sets Dec. 3 Firing Squad Execution for Fort Hood Killer. https://theepochtimes.com/us/army-sets-dec-3-firing-squad-execution-for-fort-hood-killer-6100454
- Pentagon says Trump has approved death by Army firing squad for Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan. https://justthenews.com/government/security/pentagon-says-trump-has-approved-death-army-firing-squad-fort-hood-shooter?utm_source=justthenews.com&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=external-news-aggregators
- Hegseth: Public can watch Nidal Hasan's execution. https://www.axios.com/2026/10/08/hegseth-nidal-hasan-firing-squad-public-tv
- Pentagon says the firing squad execution of Fort Hood shooter.... https://www.kob.com/ap-top-news/pentagon-says-the-firing-squad-execution-of-fort-hood-shooter-nidal-malik-hasan-will-be-livestreamed/
- Fort Hood Shooter’s Execution Will Be Public and Streamed Live.... https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/08/us/politics/fort-hood-execution-streamed-public.html
- Fort Hood shooter's execution will be live-streamed, .... https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/10/08/hegseth-wants-fort-hood-shooters-execution-by-firing-squad-be-public/
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