He and two other members of the Newtowne gang were sentenced to death under a federal law that targets large-scale drug traffickers. Johnson was implicated with playing a role in one of the worst bursts of gang violence Richmond had ever seen, with 11 people killed in a 45-day period. The new claim was that fluid would rush into the inmates’ COVID-damaged lungs immediately while they were still conscious.īut during Thursday's execution, there weren't outward signs Johnson ever experienced pain - though some medical experts say pentobarbital can have a paralyzing effect that masks pain inmates might be feeling as they die. Lawyers have previously argued the pentobarbital injections cause flash pulmonary edema, where fluid rapidly fills the lungs, sparking sensations akin to drowning. Both inmates contracted COVID-19 and won temporary stays of execution this week for that reason, only for higher courts to vacate those stays. Johnson’s execution and Friday’s scheduled execution of Dustin Higgs are the last before next week’s inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden, who opposes the federal death penalty and has signaled he’ll end its use. ![]() But it was clear the clapping came from the latter as an official pronounced Johnson dead. Reporters could not see into the witness rooms reserved for his family and for relatives of his victims. It took a little more than 20 minutes for him to die. But suddenly, his eyelids drew down hard and his mouth fell agape. A low murmur emanated from the room in which someone seemed to be praying and offering words of reassurance to Johnson.įor two minutes, Johnson continued to try to speak. “I wanted to say that to the families who were victimized by my actions." He also said he wanted his victims' names to be remembered.Īs the lethal drug began flowing through IVs into his arms strapped to a cross-shaped gurney, Johnson lifted his wrist and waved to someone in the room for his family. “I want to say that I am sorry for my crimes," he said. In it, he said the pizza and strawberry shake he ate and drank before the execution “were wonderful” but he didn’t get the jelly-filled doughnuts he wanted. Seconds later, he said softly while gazing intently at same room, “Love you.”Īfter the execution, his lawyers released Johnson's last statement. ![]() Still glancing around, he responded, “No. ![]() When asked if he had any last words, Johnson appeared distracted, focusing on a room to his left designated for members of his family. Johnson, who his lawyers said was severely mentally disabled, was pronounced dead at 11:34 p.m. The last during the presidency of ardent death-penalty advocate Donald Trump was set for Friday. He was the 12th inmate executed at the prison in Terre Haute, Indiana, since the Trump administration restarted federal executions following a 17-year hiatus. government executed a drug trafficker Thursday for slaying seven people in a burst of violence in Virginia’s capital in 1992, with some witnesses in the death-chamber building applauding as the 52-year-old was pronounced dead.Ĭorey Johnson's execution went ahead after his lawyers scrambled to stop it on grounds that the lethal injection of pentobarbital would cause him excruciating pain due to lung damage from his coronavirus infection last month.
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