Execution Report: Stacey Lawton

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Lawton said that the other accomplice, Karlos Fields, was the gunman. "We were looking for a truck to steal and couldn't find one," he said in a death row interview. "As far as shooting the man, I didn't do it. ... I got no business being here." Prosecutors said they are positive that Lawton was the one who killed Price. Fields was convicted of capital murder and is serving a life sentence in prison.

The U.S. Supreme Court denied Lawton's appeal in late September. With his execution set for 3 October, the state district judge presiding over the case postponed it on that day because his attorneys had missed filing an appeal deadline by one day.

To the end, Lawton denied that he was the gunman who killed Dennis Price. At his execution, strapped to the guerney and with the saline solution already coursing through his body, Lawton addressed Jennifer Price, "I didn't kill your father. I mean, I know how it look [sic], but I didn't do it." (Jennifer was present for the execution but did not actually witness it.) Lawton repeated his claim of innocence several more times, while also encouraging his family and friends. As the drugs began taking effect, he faintly gasped twice. He was pronounced dead at 6:22 p.m.

By David Carson. Posted on 15 November 2000.
Sources: (unavailable)