US to livestream firing‑squad execution of Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan

The U.S. military will livestream the execution of former Army psychiatrist Nidal Hasan on Dec 3 at Fort Hood, Texas. Hasan, a major who used a laser‑sighted handgun on Nov 5, 2009, killed 13 unarmed soldiers and wounded 32 in a crowded medical building where troops were awaiting vaccinations. A military jury sentenced him to death in August 2013 on 45 counts of murder and attempted murder. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth pushed for a firing‑squad method and said the execution would be open to the public; he later confirmed it would be shown live. He told Real America’s Voice and the BBC that people need to see “serious consequences” and dismissed any final requests, saying “Don’t care. We’ll see him on December 3.” The Pentagon confirmed the livestream and noted the execution will occur at 1 pm, a time close to the original shooting. It would be the first U.S. military firing‑squad execution since 1945, more than six decades ago. President Donald Trump approved the plan, according to Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell. Hasan, now 56 and wheelchair‑bound after being shot during his arrest, had exchanged 18 emails with cleric Anwar al‑Awlaki, a link later highlighted in a review by former FBI director William Webster. At his trial he claimed he acted to stop U.S. troops from harming Muslims, a defence the judge barred. Legal experts warn the appellate review is still pending and could halt the execution. ## Context The case marks an unprecedented public execution in modern U.S. history, highlighting tensions between deterrence messaging and legal safeguards. It also revives debate over how military‑law punishments intersect with civilian expectations of transparency.