Oklahoma Executes Emmanuel Littlejohn for 1992 Murder
Emmanuel Littlejohn, 52, was executed by lethal injection at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary on Thursday, following a decision by Governor Kevin Stitt to deny a commutation recommendation from the state’s parole board. Littlejohn was convicted for his role in the fatal shooting of convenience store owner Kenneth Meers in 1992.
Details of the Execution
Declared dead at 10:17 a.m., Littlejohn’s execution process began just after 10 a.m., with an IV line in his right arm. In a poignant moment, he addressed his mother, Ceily Mason, who was in attendance to witness the execution, asking, “Mom, you OK?” to which she replied, “I’m OK.” Littlejohn then reassured her, saying, “Everything is going to be OK. I love you.” Mason, emotional during the process, clutched a cross necklace as her son’s breathing became increasingly laborious. Doctors pronounced him unconscious at 10:07 a.m., with an official death call made shortly after.
Legal Challenges and the Governor’s Decision
Despite last-minute legal attempts to challenge the constitutionality of Oklahoma’s execution methods, both state and federal courts dismissed the appeals. Littlejohn’s execution marks him as the third inmate executed in Oklahoma this year and the 14th since the state resumed executions in 2021 after a hiatus lasting over six years. Following this execution, any pending executions, including another scheduled for Thursday in Alabama, could result in a significant event: the simultaneous execution of five death row inmates in one week, a rare occurrence in recent U.S. history.
Background of the Crime
Littlejohn was convicted at the age of 20 for his involvement in the robbery of the Root-N-Scoot convenience store, during which Meers was killed. Prosecutors presented the case thatLittlejohn fired the fatal shot, a claim that Littlejohn’s defense disputed. His co-defendant, Glenn Bethany, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
During a recent board meeting, Littlejohn expressed remorse to Meers’ family but maintained his claim that he did not shoot Meers. His lawyers cited the changing legal landscape, arguing that a case like Littlejohn’s, deeply intertwined with robbery, would not be pursued for the death penalty today. They also pointed out the historical context of the prosecution, highlighting that the former Oklahoma County District Attorney, Bob Macy, was known for his strong adherence to death penalty sentences.
Response from Officials
Following the completion of the execution, Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond addressed the media, stating, “Justice has been served for the murder of Kenny Meers,” and expressed hope that the Meers family, after waiting 32 years, could find some solace in the execution’s conclusion. Governor Stitt’s decision has drawn attention, especially as it reflects a broader conversation on the death penalty in the state, having only once granted clemency throughout his near six-year tenure.
