Photo: Vladstudioraw / iStock / Getty Images
The state of Oklahoma executed death row inmate Emmanuel Littlejohn this morning.
The execution was carried out at 10:17 this morning at the Oklahoma Penitentiary in McAlester.
Littlejohn was on death row after being convicted in the murder of a convenience store manager during a robbery in 1992.
Kenny Meers, who was working at the Root-N-Scoot convenience store, was shot and killed in the robbery.
Littlejohn admitted taking part in the robbery, but claimed he was not responsible for Meers’ death. He claimed an accomplice, Glenn Bethany, actually pulled the trigger. Bethan was tried in the case and received life without parole.
The execution was carried out after Governor Kevin Stitt decided not to grant clemency.
“These decisions are very difficult and I do not make them lightly. Mr. Littlejohn murdered an innocent man 32 years ago while robbing a convenience store. A jury found him guilty and sentenced him to death. The decision was upheld by multiple judges. As a law and order governor, I have a hard time unilaterally overturning that decision," said Stitt. "Today, justice for this life lost was carried out. I hope this brings closure to the families impacted by this murder.”