Execution of Jessie Hoffman Jr. at Angola Raises Controversial…

Jessie Hoffman Jr. was executed on Tuesday at the Louisiana State Penitentiary using nitrogen gas, marking the first execution since 2010. Despite the presence of witnesses, including his spiritual adviser, Hoffman remained silent throughout the process and did not request a last meal. His final moments were marked by involuntary movements before he died, with the execution officially concluded at 6:50 p.m.

On Tuesday, the execution of Jessie Hoffman Jr. was conducted at the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola, marking the first execution since 2010. Witnesses entered the facility, greeted by the scent of spring flowers and the sound of a spiritual chant led by Hoffman’s spiritual adviser. At 6:17 p.m., inside the chamber, notices warned that the nitrogen hypoxia system was active as Hoffman was prepared for the lethal procedure.

Hoffman was seen restrained on the execution table, hidden under a plush blanket with a respirator mask over his face. During the process, Warden Darrel Vannoy asked if Hoffman wished to make a final statement; he remained silent and had previously declined a last meal. Vannoy then announced the start of the execution at 6:21 p.m., without a specific signal, initiating the flow of nitrogen gas for 19 minutes.

As the nitrogen entered, Hoffman’s breathing became uneven, and he exhibited involuntary movements. His twitches intensified at 6:22 p.m., with jerking and clenching motions noticed as his breathing began to slow under the watchful gaze of his spiritual adviser, the Rev. Reimoku Gregory Smith. No witnesses from Hoffman’s family were present as he succumbed to the gas.

At 6:26 p.m., Hoffman’s last significant movement occurred, and over the following minutes, his breath became indistinct. In the witness room, the atmosphere remained somber, marked by the persistent silence of the emergency contact phones on the wall. Just after 6:38 p.m., as Smith knelt in prayer, Vannoy prepared to conclude the execution.

At 6:50 p.m., the execution was declared complete. The curtains revealing Hoffman’s lifeless form for the first time showed him grimacing, with the gas mask removed. Smith’s ceremonial chants and prayers accompanied Hoffman’s passing, providing a stark reflection of his final moments on death row before his execution.

The execution of Jessie Hoffman Jr. at Angola Penitentiary marks a significant point in Louisiana’s history, being the first use of nitrogen gas as a method of capital punishment since 2010. Throughout the execution process, Hoffman’s silence and the absence of family witnesses underscore the somber nature of the event. His final moments were characterized by the presence of his spiritual adviser and a new lethal injection protocol, emphasizing the complex and controversial nature of capital punishment in the state.

Original Source: www.nola.com