Featured image: The image shows a lone soldier in a field. AI-generated image; not a photograph of the reported event.
The US Army will execute Nidal Hasan, the former Fort Hood psychiatrist who killed 13 soldiers in 2009, by firing squad — the first such execution by the Army since 1945. Source: bbc.co.uk.
What Happened
Hasan, a military psychiatrist, carried out a mass shooting at Fort Hood in 2009. He was convicted and sentenced to death. The execution will be carried out by a three-person firing squad.
Key Facts
- Hasan’s execution will be the first firing squad use by the US Army since 1945.
- It follows a botched lethal injection of Christa Pike, a woman convicted of killing a classmate.
Background: How Firing Squads Work
Firing squads have historically been used in military and judicial contexts. In the US, they were used in the 19th and early 20th centuries, but stopped nearly a century ago.
Modern executions by firing squad involve three soldiers who fire at a single target. The method is intended to be quick and humane, though past cases show it can be prolonged.
Why It Matters
Since 1982, the US has used lethal injection as the primary method of execution. But over 50 years, 64 botched executions have occurred — 51 of them involving lethal injections.
These failures have raised concerns about pain, training, and drug quality. The American Medical Association opposes any role for doctors in executions, calling it inconsistent with medical ethics.
Other Methods in Use
Some states have adopted alternative methods:
- Nitrogen gas: Used in Alabama and Louisiana. Kenneth Eugene Smith was executed this way in 2024. Witnesses reported violent reactions.
- Electric chair: Nine states now allow it. South Carolina uses it as a default method. In 1997, Pedro Medina’s head caught fire during an execution in Florida.
Limitations and Open Questions
While firing squads are seen as more traditional, they are not without risk. In 2024, Mikal Mahdi was executed by a firing squad after admitting to killing a police officer. His lawyers said the bullets missed his heart and hit his liver and other organs — prolonging his death.
There is no official data on how many firing squad executions have been botched. Training, equipment, and medical oversight remain unclear.
What to Watch Next
Idaho has made firing squads its primary method of execution. Mississippi, Oklahoma, Utah, and South Carolina also allow it.
Public execution of Hasan will be livestreamed — a move that has drawn criticism from human rights groups and medical professionals.
Alonzo Lunsford, a survivor of the Fort Hood attack, told the BBC that a firing squad was ‘a befitting’ method for a military shooter. He also questioned whether a livestream would be appropriate.
Read more about the survivor’s views on the execution and livestream.
For a broader look at execution methods in the US, see the original BBC report.
