Convicted murderer Ronnie Lee Gardner, 49, was put to death by firing squad at the Utah State Prison on June 18, 2010. Prior to the execution, he was strapped into a chair. When asked if he had anything to say, his reply was: “I do not, no.” At that point a black hood was fastened over his head.
Five marksman, all police officer volunteers, aimed their .30-caliber Winchester rifles at a target pinned to the convicted man’s chest and fired a volley of bullets. Four of the shooters guns contained live rounds. They fired in unison at 12:15 a.m. Gardner was pronounced dead at 12:17 a.m.
His last meal, taken on Tuesday June 15, 2010, consisted of steak, lobster, apple pie, vanilla ice cream and 7-Up. He then began a 48-hour fast, that his lawyer said was for “spiritual reasons” having to do with his Mormon heritage.
At a news conference held an hour after the firing squad execution, members of the press who witnessed the event spoke about their observations.
Jennifer Dobner of the AP said: “There was no blood splattered across the white cinderblock wall at the Utah State Prison. No audible sounds from the condemned. I couldn’t see his eyes. I never saw the guns and didn’t hear the countdown to the trigger-pull.”
Gardner had been on death row since 1985 – crime scene photos and details here.
See photos and video of the death chamber after the execution below:
Photos: Video screenshots; AP