Hegseth wants a livestream execution. Here's how firing squads work
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth plans to livestream the December execution of Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan by using a firing squad, one of the rarest forms of capital punishment in the United States. Why it matters: The planned livestream would mark the first public U.S. execution in roughly 90 years, but it has already drawn scrutiny , with President Trump expressing doubt it'll happen. Catch up…
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has announced plans to livestream the December execution of Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan via a firing squad, marking the first public U.S. execution in roughly 90 years. The execution has drawn scrutiny, with President Trump expressing doubt about its occurrence. Congress and Vice President Kamala Harris have also raised concerns.
Execution by firing squad is rare, with only six instances since capital punishment resumed in 1977, and the U.S. military has not executed anyone by firing squad since 1945. During a firing squad execution, the prisoner is strapped to a chair before a wall, surrounded by sandbags to absorb blood, and a hood covers their head. Shooters fire at the prisoner's heart from a set distance, aiming to kill them by blood loss if they miss.
The method is legal in five states, but the Army chooses the execution method, date, and location, as per Army Regulation 190-55.
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