Florida has carried out its 18th execution this year. William Reaves, 77, was put to death Tuesday by lethal injection. He was convicted of shooting and killing Deputy Richard Raczkowski in 1986 after the two struggled over a gun.
A vigil outside the governor’s mansion in Tallahassee took place at the same time Reaves was put to death at Florida State Prison. Peter Cowdrey was among the group at the vigil.
“We are here hoping and praying that there will be an end to all this," Cowdrey said. "We don’t understand the cadence of killing that we see and this march of death that is weekly, or something close to it—sometimes twice in one day. It makes no sense.”
On Monday, more than 100 Veterans sent a letter to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis urging him to stop the execution, noting that Reaves was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder related to his service in Vietnam.
DeSantis has said he believes executions are an important part of bringing closure to victims’ family members.
The state is on track to beat its record set last year of 19 executions. That comes as lethal injection is facing increased scrutiny following the failed execution last month of Christa Pike in Tennessee. The two states use different protocols. Florida uses a three-drug injection.
