Trump Approves Firing Squad Execution for Nidal Hasan, Convicted of Fort Hood Shooting

President Donald Trump has approved the execution of Nidal Hasan, a former Army major who killed 13 people and wounded 30 in a mass shooting at Fort Hood in 2009, by firing squad. Hasan was sentenced to death following the attack, which he claimed was motivated by anger over being deployed to Afghanistan and a desire to protect Islamic leaders from U.S. troops. Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell announced that Hasan will be the second person since 2010 to be executed by firing squad. Parnell stated, 'Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has recommended — and President Donald J. Trump has approved — death by U.S. Army firing squad for convicted terrorist Nidal Malik Hasan.' The execution's timing and location will be determined by the Secretary of the Army. Hasan's attack, which occurred in November 2009, was the deadliest on a domestic military installation in U.S. history. During the shooting, Hasan shouted 'Allahu Akbar' and opened fire on soldiers waiting for medical services. He was paralyzed during the incident and has been on death row since 2013. The Department of Defense classified the attack as workplace violence rather than terrorism. The U.S. government has not included firing squads in its execution protocols, although five states allow this method. The Justice Department has recently moved to reauthorize the use of firing squads as part of a broader effort to expedite capital punishment cases.