Missouri is scheduled to execute a man on Tuesday who has been convicted of killing a state trooper.
Lance Shockley was convicted of the 2005 murder of Missouri State Highway Patrol Sgt. Carl Dewayne Graham Jr. Graham, who had been investigating Shockley’s role in a deadly drunk driving crash, was shot and killed outside his Carter County home.
Gov. Mike Kehoe said he has not decided if he will block Shockley’s execution.
“This is obviously the first time I’ve been involved at this level,” Kehoe told reporters this week at an event in Jefferson City. “And I will tell you, it’s a heavy decision. It’s something I definitely do not take lightly.”
Kehoe’s spokesperson, Gabby Picard, provided additional comments to Missourinet.
“Governor Kehoe and his legal team continue to review Mr. Shockley’s case ahead of Tuesday’s scheduled execution. This is not a decision that the Governor takes lightly, and he will take all available information into account when making a final determination.”
Shockley, 48, has insisted he’s innocent and contends there’s a lack of evidence and eyewitnesses in the crime.
Anti-death penalty advocates gathered at the Missouri Capitol on Tuesday, urging the governor to halt the scheduled execution.
Heidi Moore, Executive Director of Missourians to Abolish the Death Penalty, told Missourinet that she believes Shockley’s case is based entirely on circumstantial evidence.
“His trial was marred with errors. The lawyer did not put up an adequate defense. In fact, they didn’t present any of Lance’s alibis. Then there was an issue with one of the jurors. The jury foreman, specifically who had written a book about vigilantly justice from a car accident, and he was involved through the finding of guilt and innocence.”
With the jury deadlocked on sentencing, a judge imposed the death penalty.
The U.S. Supreme Court has declined a request to hear Shockey’s arguments.
He is scheduled to die by lethal injection on October 14 at the state prison in Bonne Terre.
Missourinet is serving as a state witness in the scheduled execution.
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