Nidal Malik Hasan, the Army psychiatrist convicted of killing 13 people at Fort Hood in 2009, has been scheduled for execution by firing squad on Dec. 3 at Fort Hood. Acting Army Secretary Adam Telle announced the date Tuesday, saying President Trump had approved the execution. It would be the first execution carried out by the U.S. military since 1961.

The attack happened in November 2009 inside a medical processing building on base, where soldiers were preparing to deploy. Hasan shouted “Allahu akbar” before opening fire, killing 13 and wounding more than 30. At trial he made almost no effort to defend himself and described himself as a soldier who had “switched sides,” saying he wanted to stop troops from deploying to Afghanistan.

Despite the December date, the execution may not happen on schedule. Hasan can file a habeas corpus appeal in civilian federal court, a process that can take years to resolve. For families in the Fort Hood and greater Waxahachie area who lost someone or served alongside the victims, the announcement is another chapter in a story that never fully closed.

Do you think the December 3rd date will hold, or will the appeals push it out? Let us know.