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

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 21 Oct, 02:32 · Archive

Florida executed 77-year-old William Reaves by lethal injection for the 1986 shooting death of a deputy, the state's 18th execution this year.

William Reaves, a 77-year-old Vietnam War veteran, was pronounced dead at 6:12 p.m. on Tuesday following execution by three-drug lethal injection at Florida State Prison near Starke. He was convicted of first-degree murder for shooting Indian River County Deputy Richard Raczkowski in September 1986. The execution was Florida's 18th this year under Republican Governor Ron DeSantis and the eighth involving a prisoner over age 70.

According to court records, Raczkowski responded to a 911 call Reaves had made from a payphone outside a Vero Beach convenience store. During their encounter, a gun fell from Reaves' shorts and the two men struggled over the firearm, with Reaves eventually regaining control and shooting the deputy.

More than 100 fellow veterans appealed to DeSantis on Monday to halt the execution, citing that jurors were never told Reaves had been classified as 100 per cent disabled by the Department of Veterans Affairs due to post-traumatic stress disorder from his military service. Reaves' attorneys had also challenged Florida's lethal injection procedure, but the Florida Supreme Court rejected his appeals.

DeSantis, whose term ends in January, has defended the pace of executions, arguing that victims' families deserve justice after decades of waiting. Florida set a state record with 19 executions in 2025 and could match that figure if another prisoner scheduled to die in November is also executed.

How it is being reported

• Florida puts 77-year-old man to death for deputy's murder as state closes in on execution recordA 77-year-old Florida man was put to death in the Sunshine State's 18th execution this year as Gov. Ron DeSantis continues the state's accelerated execution pace.Fox News · 21 Oct, 02:52
• Florida executes man who killed deputy after fighting for gunFlorida carried out its 18th execution this year under Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis' aggressive use of the death penalty.CBS News · 21 Oct, 02:17
• Vietnam veteran, 77, faces execution by lethal injection as Florida nears grim death penalty recordFlorida is set to carry out its 18th execution this year under Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis’ aggressive use of the death penaltyIndependent World · 20 Oct, 10:43

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

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