USA - Texas. Gregory Russeau, 45, Black, was executed

Gregory Russeau, 45, Black, was executed for the May 2001 fatal beating of James Syvertson, 75, White, while on a crack binge. DNA, fingerprint and palm-print evidence helped convict Russeau of capital murder. Russeau began snoring as the lethal dose of pentobarbital began and all movement stopped within about a minute. He was pronounced dead 21 minutes later. Russeau becomes the 9th inmate to be put to death this year in Texas, the 527th overall since the state resumed capital punishment on December 7, 1982, the 17th in the U.S. this year, and the 1411th overall since the nation resumed executions in 1977.