Jamaal Howard was executed in Texas on October 7 for the 2000 killing of gas station worker Vicky Swartout. Before his death, Howard apologized to Swartout’s loved ones and asked for their forgiveness, saying he hoped they could eventually forgive him.
Howard was convicted of shooting Swartout during a robbery at a Chevron station in Silsbee, Texas, when he was 20 years old. During his legal proceedings, he maintained his innocence at times, while his attorneys argued that his intellectual disability and history of mental illness made him incompetent for execution. Those efforts were unsuccessful.
Howard received a single dose of pentobarbital at the Huntsville Unit and was pronounced dead at 8:03 p.m. local time. In his final statement, he also thanked his family and friends, told them he loved them, and said he was ready to find peace with the Lord. He ended by encouraging those around him to “enjoy life” and wishing them peace.
According to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Howard remained engaged with officers during the journey from death row and continued asking questions after arriving at the execution chamber. His execution made him the seventh person put to death by Texas in 2026, with two additional executions scheduled later in the year.