The former U.S. army officer who was found guilty of the 2009 shooting spree at Fort Hood, Texas, resulting in the deaths of 13 individuals, is slated for execution by firing squad in December. This would mark the first U.S. military execution in over six and a half decades. Acting secretary of the U.S. army, Adam Telle, announced via social media that army Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan is set to face the firing squad on December 3 at Fort Hood, following approval from U.S. President Donald Trump.
The news of the impending execution caught Hasan’s former civil case attorney off guard and raised concerns among military law experts regarding the army’s adherence to the required procedures for setting an execution date and informing the condemned prisoner.
Questions have also arisen about the formation of the firing squad and the specific protocols that will be followed. The last instance of the military carrying out a firing squad execution dates back to the post-World War II era.
With Trump’s approval on October 2, the countdown for the execution process has commenced, with regulations stipulating that the execution date must fall between 60 to 150 days after approval. However, details such as the location on the base, the composition of the squad, and the execution procedure remain undisclosed.
Requests for further information from Pentagon officials and the army were declined, and queries about potential procedural issues remain unanswered. While army regulations lack explicit guidelines for specific execution methods, historical accounts suggest that in past firing squad executions, one shooter would have a blank round to maintain ambiguity over who fired the lethal shot.
Hasan, a former army psychiatrist, carried out the deadly attack at Fort Hood, expressing his intent to prevent soldiers from deploying to Afghanistan. His defense was restricted during the trial, where he admitted to the shootings but refrained from mounting a vigorous defense.
The possibility of delays in the execution process has been raised, with legal experts highlighting avenues for extended legal challenges, such as Habeas Corpus petitions in federal civilian courts. This could prolong the process significantly, potentially spanning across different administrations.
The resumption of federal executions under Trump’s administration saw a notable increase in executions, making him one of the most prolific execution presidents in over a century. In the military justice system, death sentences are rare, and actual executions are even rarer, with only a handful of individuals currently on military death row.
As the execution date approaches, concerns have been raised regarding Hasan’s medical condition, as he is paralyzed from the waist down and relies on a wheelchair. Questions remain about the expedited nature of the execution and the logistical challenges posed by Hasan’s health issues.
Speculation prior to Hasan’s execution announcement suggested the possibility of leveraging firing squad protocols from states like South Carolina or Utah, which have recently reinstated this method for executions. South Carolina’s firing squad protocol involves multiple shooters positioned a distance from the prisoner, with a medical professional targeting the heart for a simultaneous execution.
The renovation costs associated with South Carolina’s firing squad facilities provide insight into the preparations required for such executions.