A Missouri man convicted of ambushing and killing a state trooper two decades ago was executed Tuesday evening, despite maintaining his innocence.
Lance Shockley, 48, was pronounced dead by lethal injection shortly after 6 p.m. at the state prison in Bonne Terre, according to corrections officials.
Shockley was found guilty of fatally shooting Missouri State Highway Patrol Sgt. Carl Dewayne Graham Jr. in March 2005.
Prosecutors said Shockley lay in wait near Graham’s home in Van Buren for hours before attacking, striking the trooper first with a rifle and then with a shotgun as he stepped from his patrol vehicle.
Final Moments
In the death chamber, witnesses said Shockley’s head was elevated on a pillow.
He lifted his head and spoke briefly to loved ones in the gallery before lying back down.
His last visitors earlier in the day were his two daughters and a friend, prison officials said.
His final meal consisted of three packs of oatmeal, peanut butter, water, and two sports drinks.
In a written last statement, Shockley cited the Bible:
“So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.”
Appeals Rejected
Shockley’s appeals for a new trial were repeatedly denied, culminating in the U.S. Supreme Court rejecting his final petitions earlier Tuesday.
On Monday, Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe also denied his clemency request.
“Violence against those who risk their lives every day to protect our communities will never be tolerated,” Kehoe said in a statement.
“Missouri stands firmly with our men and women in uniform.”
Shockley was convicted in 2009 and sentenced to death that same year.
Prosecutors argued he murdered Graham to prevent him from pursuing an investigation into Shockley for involuntary manslaughter tied to a deadly car accident.
Defense Claimed Case Was Circumstantial
Shockley’s attorney, Jeremy Weis, insisted prosecutors failed to provide direct evidence.
“The state’s case remained circumstantial,” Weis said last week, noting the murder weapons were never recovered and that prosecution and defense ballistics experts disagreed.
Witnesses also placed Shockley 14 miles away from Graham’s home at the time prosecutors alleged he was lying in wait.
But prosecutors pointed to evidence that Shockley had inquired about Graham’s home before the killing and attempted to discard a box of .243-caliber ammunition near the time of the crime.
Broader Context
Shockley was the first person executed in Missouri this year.
The state’s last execution took place in December 2024.
Nationally, he was one of two inmates executed on Tuesday.
In Florida, 72-year-old Samuel Lee Smithers was put to death for the 1996 murders of two women, marking the state’s record 14th execution this year.
READ MORE – Father Running for Sheriff After Killing Predator Caught Raping His Daughter
Our comment section is restricted to members of the Slay News community only.
To join, create a free account HERE.
If you are already a member, log in HERE.