Execution Report: Ronald Howard

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A jury convicted Howard of capital murder in July 1993 and sentenced him to death. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed the conviction in December 1996, but, finding that a prospective juror was erroneously dismissed over her ability to impose a death sentence, it reversed the death sentence and ordered a new punishment hearing. In January 1999, Howard was again sentenced to death by a jury. The Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed the death sentence in December 2001. All of his subsequent appeals in state and federal court were denied.

In an interview from death row, Howard told a reporter that as he was driving on U.S. 59, Davidson pulled along side of him, then sped off. When Howard drove over a hill, Davidson was waiting for him on the other side. Howard said that as he drove past, Davidson flipped on his lights and pulled him over. "I felt like I was being taunted," Howard said.

"All my experiences with police have never been good, whether I've been doing something bad or not," Howard continued. "That's what I think played a major part. I assumed that this wasn't going to be a good experience either." Howard said that Davidson asked him, "How you doing?" as he approached him. "But I was already in motion. I'd already shot as I hear him saying that."

In the interview, Howard did not say for certain that rap music was responsible for his crime. "I'm not a psychologist," Howard said. "So I don't know. I never said, 'yes it did' or 'no it didn't.' I don't know. But my lawyers thought it could have caused it. And they were trying to justify, put reason for what I did."

Howard's trial attorney, Allen Tanner, told a reporter the week before Howard's execution, "He grew up in the ghetto and disliked police, and these were his heroes ... these rappers ... telling him if you're pulled over, just blast away. It affected him," Tanner said. That was a totally valid, serious defense."

At the time of the shooting, Howard was an 18-year-old father of four and was on probation for burglary. He told the reporter that he had stolen "a lot of cars," but that was a normal activity for teenagers in his Houston neighborhood. "When you think about people on death row, you think of monsters - non-sociable people who can't help but hurt other people," Howard said. "That's not who I am."

"I hope this helps a little," Howard told the victim's widow and two children at his execution. "I don't know how, but I hope it helps." He then expressed love to his friends and brother. As the lethal injection was administered, Howard looked at his friends again and mouthed, "I'm going home. I'm good. Be strong. I'll be alright." He was pronounced dead at 6:24 p.m.

By David Carson. Posted on 7 October 2005.
Sources: Texas Attorney General's office, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Associated Press, Huntsville Item, court documents.