Oklahoma has carried out its first execution of the year, putting to death a man who admitted to killing two individuals following a dispute at a nightclub. Kendrick Simpson, aged 45, was pronounced dead at 10:19 local time on Thursday after receiving a three-drug injection at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester.
Details of the Crime and Conviction
Simpson was convicted for the murders of Anthony Jones, 19, and Glen Palmer, 20, in January 2006. The incident occurred after an altercation at an Oklahoma City nightclub, where prosecutors stated Simpson and his friends followed the victims from a nearby gas station. Simpson then fired approximately 20 rounds from an assault rifle into their car, shooting both victims multiple times.
Background and Clemency Hearing
Simpson, who had relocated to Oklahoma City from New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina in 2005, expressed remorse during a clemency hearing last month. He apologized to the families of the victims and to a third man who was present in the vehicle during the shooting. "I apologize for murdering your sons," Simpson said. "I don't make any excuses. I don't blame others, and they didn't deserve what happened to them."
Despite his apology, the state's five-member Pardon and Parole Board narrowly voted to deny clemency. The U.S. Supreme Court also rejected a late appeal to block the execution, offering no comment on Wednesday afternoon.
Legal Arguments and Family Reactions
Simpson's attorneys argued that he suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder due to chronic childhood trauma experienced while growing up in a New Orleans housing project. In his clemency application, they wrote, "Kendrick is a man worthy of your mercy and compassion. The death penalty is supposed to be reserved for the worst of the worst offenses and offenders. Kendrick and his case represent neither."
However, some family members of the victims supported the execution. Crystal Allison, Palmer's sister, wrote in a letter to the board, "Do I believe this man should live and be able to breathe and take out the rest of his life behind a cell? He made the choice for him so I stand here today to make the choice for my family. Yes, we would like to see him executed for what he did — he executed my brother."
Official Statements and Execution Method
Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond commended the board for denying clemency, describing Simpson as a "ruthless and violent killer who hunted his victims without remorse." The execution utilized a three-drug protocol: the sedative midazolam, followed by vecuronium bromide to halt breathing, and potassium chloride to stop the heart.
Broader Context of U.S. Executions
Simpson's execution was the second in the United States this year. Florida, which set a state record with 19 executions in 2025, executed Ronald Palmer Heath on Tuesday for a 1989 murder. In 2025, a total of 47 people were executed nationwide, with Florida leading due to death warrants signed by Republican Governor Ron DeSantis. Alabama, South Carolina, and Texas each conducted five executions that year.
Florida is scheduled to perform the next execution in the U.S. on Tuesday, with the planned lethal injection of Melvin Trotter for killing a grocery store owner during a robbery.
