The Pentagon will livestream the firing squad execution of Nidal Malik Hasan, the Fort Hood shooter who killed 13 people, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has confirmed. Hegseth said the execution will be "public" and take place at Fort Hood on December 3.
Execution to be made public
Speaking to the conservative TV outlet Real America's Voice News on Wednesday, Hegseth said: "We'll make sure that people are able to watch it, that it's public." Officials in the Pentagon confirmed on Thursday that the execution will be live streamed, with more details to follow.
Hasan was convicted of killing 13 people and injuring a further 32 in a shooting at the military base in 2009.
Final requests dismissed
The Defence Secretary spoke to the outlet aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier while visiting the long-deployed crew, who supported the Iran war, before their arrival at their home port in San Diego. When prompted whether Hasan had made any final requests or reached out to the Trump administration, Hegseth replied: "Don't care. We'll see him on December 3rd."
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell had said Monday that President Donald Trump had approved the execution of Hasan. The White House on Thursday immediately referred questions about the plans for the livestreamed execution to the Pentagon.
Survivor speaks out
Retired Staff Sgt. Alonzo Lunsford told America's Newsroom he will be watching the execution of the officer who shot at him 15 years ago. Lunsford said: "You live by the sword, you die by the sword. And the way that he went about doing his deed was a coward's way because we didn't have any way to defend ourselves that day."
Lunsford suffered from several gunshot wounds, including one in the head. He thinks watching the execution could help bring together survivors and grieving families. "It's for two reasons. One is to give the families of the deceased a chance to close a chapter and also the survivors to close a chapter," Lunsford said of the execution. "And it sends a clear message that we will not stand for this activity in any of our armed services or in the United States."
The military has not executed a service member by firing squad since World War II. The last military execution took place on April 13, 1961, when Army Private John Bennett was executed by hanging.
