HUNTSVILLE, Texas (AP) _ Former San Antonio street gang member Frank Garcia has been put to death for fatally shooting a veteran police officer who was trying to resolve a domestic dispute.
Garcia was condemned for killing 48-year-old Officer Hector Garza, a father of five who had spent 25 years on the San Antonio police force when he was gunned down March 29, 2001. Garcia’s wife also was killed in the gunfire.
The 39-year-old Garcia shouted “Thank you Yahweh” over and over until he lost consciousness. He was pronounced dead at 7:02 p.m. CDT Thursday.
A half-hour earlier, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to block the punishment. Garcia’s lawyers argued in appeals he was mentally impaired and ineligible for the death penalty under high court rulings.
It’s the 12th execution this year in Texas.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)