Execution Report: Michael McBride

Michael Lee McBride, 38, was executed by lethal injection on 11 May 2000 in Huntsville, Texas, for the murder his ex-girlfriend and her friend.

In October 1985, McBride, then 33, let himself into his girlfriend's apartment with a key. He was angry with his girlfriend, Christian Fisher, 18, for letting three of her friends - two of whom were male - stay in her apartment for the weekend. He attacked one of the men, James Alan Holzer, 18, who was sleeping on the couch. Holzer and the other man, Cody Minnick, subdued McBride. McBride continued confronting Fisher about her friends, then left.

Two days later, McBride and Fisher ended their relationship via telephone. Fisher wanted some money McBride owed her, so he told her to come to his house "alone." He also told her, "If I can't have you, nobody will."

The foursome proceded directly to McBride's house, in two cars. Fisher and Holzer parked in front of the house, while Minnick and the third friend, Karen Tidwell, parked several car lengths behind them. Fisher went to the door, knocked, and got no answer. Just then, McBride appeared from behind Minnick's car and pointed a .30-caliber rifle at him. He demanded that Minnick and Tidwell get out of the car and leave. He also smashed the driver's side window with the rifle butt and fired two shots into the air. McBride then approached Fisher. They struggled together with the rifle, and Fisher yelled, "You won't do it!" McBride shot Fisher ten times at close range. He then went to the car. He first shot Holzler through the windshield, then smashed the driver's side window and shot Holzler some more. Finally, McBride turned the rifle on himself, shooting himself once in the head.

A neighbor who earlier witnessed McBride carrying a gun had already called police. Witnesses kicked the gun away from McBride when he reached for it, crawling on his hands and knees. McBride was violent, agressive, and verbally abusive towards EMS personnel.

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