Oklahoma Carries Out Execution for 2006 Double Homicide Drive-By Shooting
Oklahoma has executed a man convicted of murdering two individuals during a drive-by shooting incident in 2006. The lethal injection took place at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary, representing the first execution in the state this year and the second across the United States.
Details of the Crime and Conviction
Kendrick Simpson, aged 45, was found guilty for the killings of 19-year-old Anthony Jones and 20-year-old Glen Palmer. The tragic event occurred after a dispute at an Oklahoma City nightclub in January 2006. Prosecutors detailed that Simpson placed an assault rifle in a vehicle trunk, followed the victims from a nearby gas station, and fired approximately 20 rounds into their car, resulting in multiple gunshot wounds for both men.
Simpson, who had relocated to Oklahoma City from New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina in 2005, admitted to the murders during a clemency hearing last month. He expressed remorse, stating, "I apologize for murdering your sons. I don't make any excuses. I don't blame others, and they didn't deserve what happened to them."
Clemency Denied and Legal Appeals
Despite his apology, the state's five-member Pardon and Parole Board narrowly voted against granting clemency. Additionally, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a late appeal to halt the execution without comment on Wednesday afternoon. Simpson's legal team argued that he suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder due to chronic childhood trauma in a New Orleans housing project, asserting that his case did not warrant the death penalty reserved for the "worst of the worst" offenders.
Victims' Families and Official Statements
Family members of the victims supported the execution. Crystal Allison, Palmer's sister, wrote in a letter to the board, "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."
Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond commended the board's decision, describing Simpson as a "ruthless and violent killer who hunted his victims without remorse."
Execution Method and National Context
The execution utilized a three-drug protocol: the sedative midazolam, followed by vecuronium bromide to halt breathing, and potassium chloride to stop the heart. This marks Oklahoma's first execution of the year, following a national trend.
In 2025, the United States conducted 47 executions, with Florida leading at 19, a state record under Republican Governor Ron DeSantis. Alabama, South Carolina, and Texas each had five executions. The previous U.S. execution this year occurred in Florida, where Ronald Palmer Heath was put to death for a 1989 murder. Florida is scheduled for the next execution on Tuesday, involving Melvin Trotter for killing a grocery store owner during a robbery.
