Missouri executes Kevin Johnson for killing cop in 2005

A Missouri man who killed a police officer he blamed for his younger brother’s dying become performed Tuesday night time.

Kevin Johnson died by lethal injection of pentobarbital at the kingdom jail in Bonne Terre for the 2005 homicide of Kirkwood Police Officer William McEntee, against the law he committed while he become 19 years antique.

The 37-yr-antique inmate did now not make a final assertion, however spoke with his religious guide, the Rev. Darryl Gray, in the moments earlier than the lethal drug became administered.

Gray examine from the Bible because the drug labored thru Johnson’s system. Within seconds, Johnson ceased shifting, but Grady continued praying whilst patting Johnson’s shoulder.

Though Gray, a leading St. Louis racial injustice activist, turned into gift for Johnson’s remaining moments in a primary for cutting-edge executions in Missouri, Johnson’s daughter become quite absent.

Khorry Ramey, 19, filed a request to witness her father’s loss of life with the help of the ACLU, but a federal judge upheld kingdom regulation barring individuals under the age of 21 from being present at executions.

Ramey, who changed into 2 when Johnson turned into arrested, referred to as her father “the maximum crucial person in my life” and claimed he worked tough to rehabilitate himself throughout his time in prison.

“He apologized once more. He apologized to the victim’s circle of relatives. He apologized to his circle of relatives. He said he became looking forward to seeing his toddler brother. And he said he become equipped,” said Gray.

Johnson become sentenced to demise after killing McEntee in a situation that began with the officer serving an arrest warrant, however devolved right into a fatal night.

When McEntee confirmed up at the residence to supply the warrant to Johnson, who police believed violated the probation he changed into on for assaulting his female friend, Johnson’s 12-yr-vintage brother Joseph “Bam Bam” Long ran next door to his grandmother’s house, in which he collapsed and had a seizure.

McEntee allegedly confined the lads’ mom from getting into the home to help Bam Bam and the boy later died at a medical institution.

Upon seeing McEntee within the community later that nighttime, Johnson approached the officer at the same time as he turned into in his car and shot him through the open passenger-aspect window. He struck him within the leg, head and torso earlier than getting inside the automobile and taking McEntee’s gun.

Johnson also struck a teenager who was within the car with McEntee, however the youngster survived.

Missouri executes Kevin Johnson for killing cop in 2005 https://t.co/KAeRSazDkO pic.twitter.com/rGZRX6CTIc

— New York Post (@nypost) November 30, 2022

Johnson informed his mom that McEntee “permit my brother die” and “desires to see what it appears like to die.” Despite his mother’s pleas that McEntee wasn’t answerable for Bam Bam’s death, Johnson back to McEntee’s car to finish the activity.

McEntee became alive and on his knees near the auto. Johnson shot McEntee inside the again and within the head, killing him.

Johnson and his lawyers have filed numerous appeals asking the state to spare his existence over time, which include one filed just one week earlier than his execution.

The Nov. 22 attraction argued Johnson’s trial became “inflamed” with racist prosecution strategies and that claimed racism played a position in his demise penalty sentencing — Johnson become black and McEntee changed into white. The Supreme Court of Missouri denied the live of execution Monday.

Though they by no means denied that he devoted the homicide, they argued his age on the time of the crime and his history of mental infection must overturn his dying sentence.

Johnson’s execution is Missouri’s 2nd this 12 months and the 17th nationally. Missouri has two extra executions scheduled for the primary few weeks of 2023.