SAN ANTONIO, Oct. 27 (UPI) -- Texas executed Frank Garcia Thursday after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to grant a stay of execution for the killer of a San Antonio police officer.
Garcia was pronounced dead at 7:02 CDT, about 10 minutes after receiving a lethal injection, the San Antonio News-Express reported. He was put to death for the 2001 shooting death of officer Hector Garza, who was investigating a domestic violence complaint at Garcia's home.
In a last-minute appeal to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, lawyers for Garcia again raised the issue that he suffered from mental retardation and should not be executed for the slayings of Officer Garza and Garcia's wife, Jessica.
"Thank you, Jesus Christ, thank you for your blessing," Garcia, 39, said repeatedly before his execution, during a last statement that went on for about 10 minutes, the New-Express said.
Garza had responded to a call at Garcia's home, where Garcia's wife said he had abused her for years and refused to let her leave and go live with her parents. Garcia shot Garza as the officer entered the couple's bedroom, and then killed his wife.
About 40 or 50 retired and current San Antonio Police Department officers attended the execution, the News-Express reported.
