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Firing squad execution to be livestreamed, Pentagon says

October 9, 2026

The U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has announced that the execution of former Army Major Nidal Hasan will be livestreamed to the public, marking what is believed to be the first public execution in the United States in nearly a century. Hasan, a military psychiatrist, was convicted of killing 13 unarmed soldiers at Fort Hood, Texas in 2009, and is scheduled to be executed by firing squad on December 3rd at the same military base. The decision has drawn international condemnation, with the UN calling it a violation of torture prohibitions and U.S. Senator Chris Murphy comparing it to ISIS executions.

Who is affected

  • Nidal Hasan, the former U.S. Army major sentenced to execution
  • The 13 families of soldiers killed in the 2009 Fort Hood shooting
  • Survivors of the attack, including Alonzo Lunsford who was shot seven times
  • U.S. military personnel who will carry out the firing squad execution
  • The general public who will have access to the livestream
  • Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and President Donald Trump who approved the execution

What action is being taken

  • The Pentagon is planning to execute Nidal Hasan by firing squad
  • The execution is being scheduled for December 3rd at Fort Hood, Texas
  • The Defense Department is planning to livestream the execution to the public
  • Hasan is likely seeking review of his conviction and sentence in federal court

Why it matters

  • This represents an unprecedented break from modern execution practices in the United States, as public executions have not occurred in nearly a century and military executions have not happened in over 60 years. The decision to livestream the execution raises serious legal, ethical, and human rights concerns, with international bodies calling it a violation of torture prohibitions and comparing it to tactics used by terrorist organizations. The case also highlights tensions between desires for public accountability for serious crimes against military personnel and longstanding norms against public executions in democratic societies.

What's next

  • The execution is scheduled for December 3rd at Fort Hood, Texas
  • Hasan is likely to seek review of his conviction and sentence in federal court, which would likely stay the execution
  • Alonzo Lunsford plans to attend the execution in person

Read full article from source: BBC

Firing squad execution to be livestreamed, Pentagon says