Nathaniel Woods executed by lethal injection in Alabama after being convicted in 2004 killing of 3 police officers
- Alabama’s first execution of the year came after a last-minute bid to stop it, that included support from the son of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jnr
- The state of Alabama said that Woods was an active participant with the slayings and had bragged about it afterwards
A man convicted as an accomplice in the 2004 killings of three police officers in Alabama who were shot by another man was executed Thursday evening.
Inmate Nathaniel Woods, 43, was pronounced dead at 9.01pm CST Thursday following a lethal injection at the state prison in Atmore, authorities said. The inmate had no last words before the chemicals began flowing, but appeared to arrange his hands in a sign of his Islamic faith.
Alabama’s first execution of the year came after a last-minute bid to stop it, that included support from the son of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jnr, and others who argued it was unfair to execute a man who did not pull the trigger in the slaying.
The state of Alabama said that Woods was an active participant with the slayings and had bragged about it afterwards in statements, song lyrics and art.
The US Supreme Court issued a temporary stay to consider last-minute appeals and then denied the inmate’s petitions. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey denied a request for clemency.