US Army to execute Texas military base shooter by firing squad

Former U.S. Army Major Nidal Hasan, convicted in the deadly 2009 Fort Hood mass shooting, is scheduled to be executed by firing squad on December 3, 2026, at 1:00 PM CST at Fort Hood, Texas.

The execution directive follows formal approval of Hasan’s death sentence by President Donald Trump on October 2, 2026. The action was officially recommended by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, according to Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell.

Following presidential authorization, Acting Secretary of the Army Adam Telle issued the formal execution order on October 6, 2026. Under Army Regulation 190-55, the Commandant of the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks will act as the designated execution officer.

Background on the Case

In 2013, a military jury found Hasan guilty of 13 counts of premeditated murder and 32 counts of attempted premeditated murder.

On November 5, 2009, Hasan—then an active-duty Army psychiatrist—opened fire inside a medical processing center at Fort Hood where service members were preparing for overseas deployment. The attack left 13 people dead and 32 others wounded.

Historical Context

Under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), capital punishment requires presidential approval. Capital punishment in the U.S. armed forces is exceedingly rare:

• The last military execution took place in 1961.

• The last documented military execution carried out specifically by firing squad occurred in 1945.

If carried out as ordered, Hasan will become the first military prisoner executed in over six decades.