Texas executed a convicted killer Wednesday evening, marking the first lethal injection in America since Tennessee’s botched execution attempt on Christa Pike left her alive after two doses of pentobarbital. The execution resumed nationwide capital punishment operations following the September 30th incident that shocked the corrections community.
Store Clerk Killer Put to Death
Jamaal Howard, 46, received a fatal dose of pentobarbital at Huntsville state prison and was pronounced dead at 8:03 p.m. Wednesday. Howard was convicted of murdering Vickie Swartout, 42, during a 2000 convenience store robbery in Silsbee, captured entirely on surveillance video. The then-20-year-old Howard shot Swartout once in the chest, stealing just $114 and cigarettes from the small-town store located 100 miles northeast of Houston.
In his final moments, Howard apologized profusely to the victim’s family watching through the viewing window. “I wish that you accept my apology and I wish for your forgiveness,” Howard stated before the injection began. “I’m sorry for what happened. I wish you can learn to forgive me one of these days.” Prison spokesperson Amanda Hernandez reported Howard remained “chatty” during the 45-mile drive from death row, asking questions and staying engaged throughout the process.
Failed Pike Execution Raised Concerns
Howard’s attorneys filed emergency appeals arguing their client faced similar risks to Pike, since both Texas and Tennessee use pentobarbital for executions. Pike, 50, survived two doses of the lethal drug and was reportedly awake and speaking days after the failed procedure. Defense lawyers also claimed Howard was intellectually disabled, citing the Supreme Court’s 2002 ban on executing intellectually disabled individuals. Both the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals and U.S. Supreme Court rejected these arguments without comment.
Texas Continues Execution Schedule
Howard became the 30th person executed nationwide in 2026 and the sixth in Texas this year. State officials plan two additional executions before year’s end, maintaining one of America’s most active capital punishment systems. The state argued Howard’s legal team failed to present sufficient evidence proving intellectual disability under Texas standards. Prosecutors emphasized the surveillance footage clearly showed Howard’s actions during the deadly robbery that claimed Swartout’s life over two decades ago.
Sources
Abc7: Texas carries out nation’s first execution since Christa Pike’s failed lethal injection
Why does IQ matter for murderers? Get rid of these bad guys who kill good women, and do it faster.
I agree ! They left that low life in prison wasting tax payers dollars for 26 years. WHY?
They need to re-do Christa Pike! What are they waiting for??????
Donna Payant, a Corrections Officer in NY State was killed in prison by an inmate whose death sentence was overturned by the State. Though in prison, convict are still dangerous and I agree that those who take a life, regardless of any supposed ‘extenuating circumstance’ needs face the executioner for his or her act.
I agree ! They left that low life in prison wasting tax payers dollars for 26 years. WHY?
Just one more asinine case of keeping this creep alive for 22 years. At an average cost of over $60,000 per year + the costs of the trials, the court appointed attorneys and the final execution are well over $1.5Million. For what? There is clear video evidence he committed the crime, a guilty verdict a yet we wasted all those years and all that money just to carry out his sentence anyway…22 years later. What kind of “justice” is that?
Democrats vote against the Death Penalty in States across the land. Remember this fact come Election Day.
Need to speed the executions up instead of waiting over 20+ years, hoping for a whining Democratic politician, judge, or official to save them. No One Was There To Save The Victims. Law and Order is a part of what of OUR COUNTRY was founded on and if you can not Assimilate it OUR COUNTRY then go back to your own Country of origin. Otherwise be prepared for the Real Wild West where American Citizens fight back!! Its happening now!!
He “apologized” thinking it would keep him alive. He murdered a person, he got executed, It’s over
The same people who are against capital punishment are all for aborting babies even at 9 months. Figure that one out.
Rid the World of these monsters.
those People are getting off easy, they should have to suffer, like the poor People that they killed. Make their death last a couple of days