# Fort Hood shooter's execution to be livestreamed

> The Pentagon will broadcast the firing squad execution of Nidal Hasan, who killed 13 soldiers in 2009, in what would be the first public US execution in nearly a century.
- Title: Fort Hood shooter's execution to be livestreamed · BBC News
- Summary: The Pentagon will broadcast the firing squad execution of Nidal Hasan, who killed 13 soldiers in 2009, in what would be the first public US execution in…
- Keywords: nidal hasan, fort hood shooting, military execution, firing squad, livestream, pete hegseth, us military, capital punishment, news, world, Fort, Hood
- Source: BBC News — https://bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cmy0r96xygx6o
- Published: 2026-10-08T21:40:08.275+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: nidal hasan, fort hood shooting, military execution, firing squad, livestream, pete hegseth, us military, capital punishment, news, world
## Pentagon to livestream execution
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the execution of Nidal Hasan will be livestreamed, marking an unprecedented step in modern US military justice.
## Who Hasan is and what he did
Nidal Hasan, a US Army psychiatrist from Virginia, fatally shot thirteen unarmed soldiers in a crowded medical building at Fort Hood in two thousand nine.
## First public execution in a century
The livestreamed execution would be believed to be the first public execution in the US in almost a century and is unprecedented in the modern era.
## Hegseth defends the decision
Defence Secretary Hegseth said people need to understand there are serious consequences for these types of things, and Hasan will face a firing squad of soldiers.

> People need to understand that there's serious consequences for these types of things.
## Survivor supports execution
Alonzo Lunsford, a former US Army sergeant shot seven times in the attack, supports the firing squad execution as befitting what Hasan did and plans to attend.
## Lunsford wants Hasan to see him
Lunsford says before the execution he wants Hasan to look him in the eyes and know he failed. He believes families of the fallen and survivors should watch uncensored.

> I want him to know he failed. I'm still here.
## Critics call it disgusting
Democratic Senator Chris Murphy told CNN that livestreaming the execution was disgusting and reminiscent of executions carried out by the Islamic State group.
## Legal experts warn of delays
Lawyer John Mills said Hasan's appellate process is not over and he is likely to seek federal court review, which would likely stay the execution and last years.
## Yale professor calls it medieval
Eugene Fidell, a visiting lecturer at Yale Law School, called the decision really unfortunate, saying to livestream an execution is out of the Middle Ages.

> To livestream an execution is just so out of the Middle Ages.
## Execution scheduled for December third
The execution is scheduled to take place at Fort Hood in Texas on December third. It would be the first military execution by firing squad since the end of World War Two.
## Key takeaway

The Pentagon announced it will livestream the execution of Nidal Hasan, a former Army psychiatrist who shot dead thirteen unarmed soldiers at Fort Hood in two thousand nine, marking an unprecedented step in US military justice.