Texas executed a man Wednesday in the first US death since a botched lethal injection in Tennessee last week. Jamaal Howard, 46, was put to death by pentobarbital at a Huntsville prison, marking the first execution since Christa Pike's failed execution in Nashville.
Howard's lawyers sought to block the execution, citing risks similar to Pike's botched injection. They argued Texas's execution drugs may be degraded, as they are past their original beyond-use dates. The court denied both requests without elaboration. Pike, who regained consciousness after the failed execution, remains in critical condition with pneumonia and arm issues.
Texas has executed six people this year, with two more lethal injections scheduled. The state has not executed since 2023, and Governor Bill Lee has barred further lethal injections for the rest of the year. Pike's execution was the second botched attempt in Tennessee this year, prompting a probe into the failed procedure. The state has not commented on Wednesday's execution.