The U.S. Army has scheduled the execution of former military psychiatrist Nidal Malik Hasan for December 3, 2026, nearly 17 years after he killed 13 people and wounded 32 others in a mass shooting at Fort Hood, Texas.
The execution is scheduled for 1 p.m. Central Time at Fort Hood and will be carried out by firing squad, following approval from President Donald Trump.
The decision was announced after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recommended the execution method. Acting Army Secretary Adam Telle confirmed the date on Tuesday, October 6.
If carried out, it will mark the first execution conducted by the U.S. military in 65 years.
What Happened at Fort Hood in 2009?
On November 5, 2009, Hasan, then a U.S. Army major and psychiatrist, entered a military medical processing facility at Fort Hood, where soldiers were undergoing medical examinations and preparing for deployment.
Armed with a handgun, he opened fire on military personnel and others inside the facility.
Thirteen people were killed, and 32 others were wounded.
The victims included active-duty soldiers and military personnel preparing for assignments overseas.
The shooting became one of the deadliest attacks on an American military installation.
Hasan was wounded by responding police officers and survived the confrontation.
Why Did Hasan Carry Out the Attack?
During his military trial, Hasan acknowledged responsibility for the shooting.
He claimed that his actions were intended to prevent American soldiers from being deployed to Afghanistan, where he believed they would participate in military operations against Muslims.
Witnesses reported that Hasan shouted the Arabic phrase “Allahu Akbar” during the attack.
The phrase, meaning “God is greatest,” is commonly used by Muslims in religious worship and everyday expressions of faith. Its use during the shooting became part of the evidence examined in the case.
Hasan described himself during the trial as a soldier who had changed sides.
His stated motivation did not alter the criminal responsibility established by the military court.
In 2013, a military jury convicted Hasan and sentenced him to death.
Why Is the Execution Happening Now?
Although Hasan received his death sentence in 2013, military executions involve a lengthy legal process.
Unlike most civilian death penalty cases, a military death sentence requires presidential approval before it can be carried out.
In 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to review Hasan’s appeal.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth subsequently recommended that the execution proceed by firing squad.
President Trump approved the recommendation, clearing a major procedural obstacle that had prevented the military from carrying out the sentence.
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell confirmed the decision, while Army officials subsequently established the execution date and location.
First U.S. Military Execution Since 1961
The decision is historically significant.
The U.S. military has not carried out an execution since April 1961, when Army Private John Bennett was executed after being convicted of rape and attempted murder.
Military executions are exceptionally rare, even though the death penalty remains available under military law for certain offenses.
If Hasan’s execution proceeds as scheduled, it will also be the first known U.S. military execution by firing squad since 1945.
Firing squads remain an authorized execution method in some American jurisdictions, although lethal injection has been the predominant method of execution in recent decades.
Could the Execution Still Be Delayed?
Despite the announced date, Hasan’s execution is not necessarily guaranteed to take place on December 3.
According to the Associated Press, he may still seek judicial intervention through a federal habeas corpus petition.
Such a legal challenge could result in a delay while civilian federal courts examine remaining constitutional or procedural questions.
Some legal experts have suggested that additional litigation could postpone the execution for an extended period.
For now, however, the Army has formally scheduled the execution.
Renewed Debate Over the Death Penalty
The announcement comes amid renewed national discussion about capital punishment and the methods used to carry it out.
Supporters of Hasan’s execution point to the seriousness of the 2009 attack and the suffering endured by victims’ families.
Opponents of capital punishment continue to question whether executions should be carried out by the government, regardless of the crimes committed.
The decision also raises questions about the use of firing squads, a method rarely employed in modern American executions.
Beyond that broader debate, the case remains a painful chapter in U.S. military history.
For the families of the 13 people killed at Fort Hood, the announcement marks another development in a legal process that has continued for nearly 17 years.
Whether the execution proceeds as scheduled will depend on any remaining legal challenges.
Sources: Associated Press (October 6, 2026); Reuters (October 6, 2026); U.S. Department of Defense.
Original reports:
Associated Press – Firing Squad Execution of Fort Hood Shooter Scheduled for December
Reuters – Trump Orders Firing Squad for Fort Hood Gunman
By NJ RADAR Team
[…] Hasan’s execution is scheduled for December 3 at 1 p.m. at Fort Hood, Texas, after President Donald Trump approved the use of a firing squad following Hegseth’s recommendation. […]