Convening authority recommends Hasan face death penalty
The Army psychiatrist accused of killing 13 people and wounding 32 at Fort Hood, Texas, is more likely to face the death penalty now that the convening authority in the case has recommended that he go before a general court-martial authorized to consider capital punishment, Fort Hood public affairs officials announced on Friday.
The recommendations are non-binding. On Nov. 5, 2009, Maj. Nidal Hasan allegedly walked into the Soldier Readiness Center at Fort Hood and opened fire. Witnesses claim he yelled “God is great” in Arabic and started shooting for about 10 minutes before he was shot outside the building by base security. He has since been confined to a wheelchair.
Hasan’s colleagues have said the man made extremist statements about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan prior to the shooting. The FBI also monitored e-mails between Hasan, 40, and radical U.S.-born Yemeni cleric Anwar al-Awlaki before the incident, but they did not tell Army officials.
