Fort Hood survivor Alonzo Lunsford has reiterated his support for the execution of former Army psychiatrist Nidal Hasan by a firing squad, saying the approach is “befitting” justice. Lunsford, who was shot seven times during the 2009 mass shooting, believes other methods such as lethal injection would be a mercy to the shooter instead of punishment.
While backing the execution method, the veteran expressed deep concerns about removing the event from a live broadcast. He told BBC Radio 4 that the public should not view the execution for entertainment and that a livestream would negatively influence younger audiences.
Lunsford said that, as a Christian, he forgives Hasan because forgiveness is essential for healing. He also explained that during the attack, Hasan turned a calm medical environment into a battlefield, and that the shooter’s claimed motives did not align with the teachings of Islam.
The Pentagon has announced that the 30‑year‑old soldier will be executed by a firing squad on a secret military base, where witnesses will monitor the proceedings. The execution would be the first public show of the military’s death penalty in almost a century.
Legal experts warn that streaming the event could face constitutional challenges, while politicians are divided: Democratic Senator Chris Murphy called it “disgusting,” whereas Republican Senator Thom Tillis chastised the idea as resembling “oppressive dictators.”
Lunsford added that he will attend the execution personally, hoping to give Hasan the final chance for accountability. He insisted that the method must confront the killer, stating: “I want him to look into my eyes… and know that he failed.”
