President Donald Trump has authorized execution by firing squad for the 2009 Fort Hood mass shooter. If carried out, the execution will be the first by the U.S. military since 1961.
According to Pentagon chief spokesman Sean Parnell, the request for a firing squad execution came from U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, and was approved by Trump. Parnell announced the planned execution in a post to X on Monday, saying that “judgement day for Hasan has finally come.”
On November 5, 2009, then U.S. Army major and psychiatrist Nidal Hasan opened fire at Fort Hood near Killeen, killing 13 and wounding 32 individuals before being shot and paralyzed by civilian police officer Sergeant Mark Todd. Witnesses said Hasan was yelling “Allahu akbar” as he was firing his weapon.
The victims included 21-year-old Private First Class Francheska Velez, who was three months pregnant at the time, and 19-year-old Private First Class Aaron Thomas Nemelka. Velez’s baby also perished.
Civilian physician assistant Michael Grant Cahill, Captain John Paul Gaffaney, and Specialist Frederick Greene were also killed while attempting to charge Hasan.
Hasan had been in contact with Yemen-based Imam Anwar al-Awlaki, who was assassinated by an American drone strike in 2011. Al-Awlaki held dual citizenship in the U.S. and Yemen, and was significantly involved with al-Qaeda. Reports also indicated Hasan’s colleagues had been aware of his increasing radicalization.
The last execution of a service member carried out by the U.S. military was that of Army Private John A. Bennett, who was hanged in 1961 for the rape and attempted murder of a young girl. The last known Army execution by firing squad was in 1945, when Private Eddie Slovik was convicted and executed for desertion in France.
Acting U.S. Secretary of the Army Adam Telle is to set the place and time for the execution.
