Florida executes 77-year-old Vietnam veteran for 1986 police killing

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 21 Oct, 00:57 · Archive

William Reaves, 77, was executed by lethal injection in Florida for shooting dead deputy Richard Raczkowski in 1986.

William Reaves, 77, was pronounced dead at 6.12pm on Tuesday following a three-drug lethal injection at Florida State Prison near Starke. He was convicted of first-degree murder in the 1986 shooting death of Indian River County Deputy Richard Raczkowski. According to court records, Raczkowski responded to a 911 call placed by Reaves at a payphone outside a Vero Beach convenience store in September 1986. During the encounter, a gun fell from Reaves' shorts, and the two men struggled over it. Reaves regained control and shot Raczkowski four times in the back as the deputy attempted to flee; Raczkowski later died from his wounds.

Reaves' defence lawyers argued that the jurors who recommended the death penalty were never informed that the US Department of Veterans Affairs had rated him as 100% disabled by post-traumatic stress disorder caused by his Vietnam War service. More than 100 veterans sent Governor DeSantis a letter on Monday requesting he stop the execution. The US Supreme Court rejected Reaves' final appeal without comment on Tuesday afternoon.

The execution marks Florida's 18th of the year and makes Reaves the eighth prisoner over 70 executed in Florida this year. Governor DeSantis, who leaves office in January after two terms, has stated his goal is to deliver justice to victims' families who have waited decades for death sentences to be carried out. Last year, Florida set a state record with 19 executions in a single year.

How it is being reported

• Florida kills 77-year-old man in state’s 18th execution of yearVietnam veteran William Reaves executed by lethal injection despite letter from fellow veterans urging halt Florida carried out its 18th execution of the year on Tuesday under Republican governor Ron DeSantis’s aggressive use of the death penalty in his final term. William Reaves, 77, was pronounced dead at 6.12pm following a three-drug injection at Florida state prison near Starke. He was convicted of first-degree murder in the 1986 shooting death of Indian River county deputy Richard Raczkowski. Continue reading...Guardian World · 21 Oct, 00:22
• Vietnam vet who murdered cop by shooting him in the back executed despite pleas for mercyWilliam Reaves, 77, a Vietnam war veteran has been put to death by lethal injection for shooting dead police officer Richard Raczkowski in FloridaThe Mirror · 20 Oct, 23:55

In this story: William Reaves · Richard Raczkowski · Ron DeSantis · Florida · Indian River County

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