What happened
War Department Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that the execution of Major Nidal Hasan, the perpetrator of the 2009 Fort Hood attack, will be public. Hasan was convicted in 2013 for killing 13 people and wounding over 30 others. Hegseth stated that the execution, to be carried out by the Army, will serve as a deterrent to other criminals.
According to Hegseth, the execution will be conducted by a firing squad of soldiers at Fort Hood, the same location where the attack occurred. He also mentioned that the execution will take place on a Thursday at 1 o'clock, the same time as the original attack.
Hegseth's announcement has sparked controversy, with some critics, including Republican Sen. Thom Tillis and Democrat Sen. Patty Murray, expressing their disapproval of making the execution public. They argue that public executions are not in line with American values and could be seen as glorifying violence.
Hasan's execution is scheduled to take place on December 3, marking the first execution of an American military member since 1961.
