Key facts
- The US military will livestream the execution of Nidal Hasan by firing squad.
- Hasan fatally shot 13 unarmed US soldiers at Fort Hood in 2009.
- This will be the US Army's first firing squad execution since 1945.
- Concerns over botched lethal injections have led to renewed interest in alternative methods.
- Alabama has used nitrogen gas for executions, with witnesses describing violent struggles.
- Donald Trump reinstated the federal death penalty in 2025.
The US military plans to livestream the execution of Nidal Hasan by firing squad, a method not used by the Army since 1945. Hasan, a former military psychiatrist, was convicted of fatally shooting 13 unarmed US soldiers at Fort Hood in 2009. This decision comes amid growing concerns over botched lethal injections and a renewed federal emphasis on capital punishment.
Several states currently authorize firing squads, and the US has been exploring both new and old execution methods, including nitrogen gas and the electric chair, in response to issues with lethal injections. The Death Penalty Information Center reports 64 botched executions over the past 50 years, with 51 involving lethal injections. Medical experts and organizations like the American Medical Association have raised concerns about the potential for severe pain and inhumane treatment across all execution methods, with many medical professionals refusing to participate.
Recent executions using nitrogen gas in Alabama have been described by witnesses as violent and disturbing. Similarly, the electric chair has a history of botched executions, including one instance where a prisoner's head caught fire. Even firing squad executions, like that of Mikahl Mahdi, have faced scrutiny for prolonged deaths due to misaimed shots. The return of the federal death penalty under Donald Trump in 2025, following a moratorium by the Biden administration, signals a continued focus on capital punishment as a deterrent and punitive measure.