Alabama executes man who volunteered to die

The 21st Execution of 2013

 Andrew Reid Lackey was executed in Alabama on July 25, 2013 for the 2005 murder of an 80-year-old World War II veteran he was trying to rob, reported The Birmingham News.

Lackey, 29, was pronounced dead at 6:25 p.m. at Holman Correctional Facility.

He became the first inmate executed in Alabama since Oct. 20, 2011. Lackey had dropped all appeals and volunteered for execution.

Lackey shot, beat and stabbed Charles Newman at Newman’s Limestone County home. Prosecutors said he was trying to rob Newman. Lackey was a friend of Newman’s grandson.

Lackey, wearing glasses and with trim, dark hair, was already strapped to a gurney when a curtain opened at 6 p.m. to allow witnesses to see him. He looked around briefly, then laid his head on the pillow.

Holman Warden Gary Hetzell read the execution order and asked Lackey if he had anything to say.
"No sir, I don't," Lackey replied.

Lackey’s mother, father, brother and aunt witnessed the execution in silence, his mother and father holding hands. The four had visited Lackey earlier in the day, said a Department of Corrections spokesman.

A man and two women witnessed the execution on behalf of the victim's family. The Department of Corrections did not have their names.

Shortly after Lackey declined to make a statement, Holman Chaplain Chris Summers approached the gurney, touched Lackey's hand and spoke to him. Lackey nodded and Summers knelt to pray.

The drugs seemed to take effect within a couple of minutes. Lackey's chest and abdomen convulsed slightly for several minutes. That was followed by what appeared to be several minutes of shallow breathing. He remained still and quiet for several minutes until a corrections officer closed the curtain at 6:15 p.m.

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