Michael Johnson, scheduled to be executed today for...
Michael Johnson, scheduled to be executed today for the 1995 robbery-murder of a convenience store clerk, committed suicide this morning at the Texas death row in Livingston.
Michael Johnson, scheduled to be executed today for the 1995 robbery-murder of a convenience store clerk, committed suicide this morning at the Texas death row in Livingston.
Johnson, 29, cut his jugular vein and an artery in his right arm with a makeshift blade about 2:45 a.m. He was declared dead at a local hospital at 3:40 a.m.
Prison spokeswoman Michelle Lyons said guards had checked on Johnson every 15 minutes, as is customary as executions near.
In a recent prison interview, Johnson had denied gunning down on Sept. 10, 1995 27-year-old Jeff Wetterman. Johnson blamed his companion, David Vest, for the killing.
Vest blamed the shooting on Johnson, took an 8-year prison term in a plea deal and testified against his friend. Vest is now free.
Johnson, 29, cut his jugular vein and an artery in his right arm with a makeshift blade about 2:45 a.m. He was declared dead at a local hospital at 3:40 a.m.
Prison spokeswoman Michelle Lyons said guards had checked on Johnson every 15 minutes, as is customary as executions near.
In a recent prison interview, Johnson had denied gunning down on Sept. 10, 1995 27-year-old Jeff Wetterman. Johnson blamed his companion, David Vest, for the killing.
Vest blamed the shooting on Johnson, took an 8-year prison term in a plea deal and testified against his friend. Vest is now free.
— SOURCES
- (Sources: Houston Chronicle & Associated Press, 19/10/2006)