Trump approves firing squad execution for Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan
In June 2026, President Donald Trump approved the execution by firing squad of Nidal Hasan, the US Army psychiatrist who killed 13 people in the 2009 Fort Hood shooting in Texas, the Pentagon announced. Hasan was sentenced to death by a military jury in 2013 for the attack, which also wounded over two dozen people, mostly soldiers.
Why does this matter to ME? While the case is unfolding in the United States, it touches on global debates about the death penalty, military justice, and how societies respond to terrorism—issues that resonate in Nigeria’s own conversations about security, justice, and human rights. Understanding such high-profile cases helps Nigerians contextualize international legal practices and consider where their own values stand on state-administered executions.
What should I know or do about it? The execution will be the first carried out by the US military since 1961, with the Secretary of the Army set to determine the time and place. Hasan, a US-born Muslim of Palestinian descent, chose to represent himself at trial, called no witnesses, and made no attempt to deny the charges. If you follow global justice developments, you may want to monitor statements from human rights groups or official US sources for updates on the execution date and any legal challenges.