Execution Report: Gilberto Reyes

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Reyes, who was a member of a "social club" called the 8th Street Posse, had a previous conviction for aggravated assault for driving a truck into a group of men in a rival "social club," injuring one of them, in July 1992. He received deferred adjudication, which was revoked after he was convicted of driving while intoxicated in 1994. He served about six months in a state boot camp program.

A jury convicted Reyes of capital murder in January 2000 and sentenced him to death. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed the conviction and sentence in September 2002. All of his subsequent appeals in state and federal court were denied.

Victor Leal, who operated the restaurant where Barraz had worked for about three months, said in an interview that he did not know Reyes was stalking her. "I regret the fact apparently he'd been stalking her and she did not tell me that," Leal said. "I've always looked back and thought if I had taken time, sat down, and known her a little better, maybe she would have shared that with me and I would have done something like make sure she was getting walked out to her car."

Reyes did not have any family members or witnesses in attendance at his execution. "I love y'all and I'm going to miss y'all," he said, grinning. He did not look at Barraz's parents and other family members, who watched from a nearby room. The lethal injection was then started. He was pronounced dead at 6:17 p.m.

By David Carson. Posted on 22 June 2007.
Sources: Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Texas Attorney General's office, Associated Press, Huntsville Item, court documents.