USA - Texas. Johnny Ray Johnson, 51, black, was executed

Johnny Ray Johnson, 51, black, was executed for the 1995 rape-slaying of 41-year-old Leah Joette Smith, black. Her murder was one of at least five rape-slayings tied to Johnson, who also was linked to at least eight other rapes in Houston and Austin starting in the late 1970s. Johnson confessed to numerous other rapes. Johnson becomes the 8th condemned inmate to be put to death this year in Texas and the 431st overall since the state resumed capital punishment on December 7, 1982. Bradley becomes the 13th condemned inmate to be put to death this year in the USA and the 1149th overall since the nation resumed executions on January 17, 1977.