John William King has been executed

Officers begin to cordone off the street outside of the Huntsville Unit where John William King is scheduled to be executed Wednesday. Photo taken Wednesday, April 24, 2019 Kim Brent/The Enterprise Officers begin to cordone off the street outside of the Huntsville Unit where John William King is scheduled to be executed Wednesday. Photo taken Wednesday, April 24, 2019 Kim Brent/The Enterprise Photo: Kim Brent/The Enterprise Photo: Kim Brent/The Enterprise Image 1 of / 190 Caption Close John William King has been executed 1 / 190 Back to Gallery

7:30 p.m. UPDATE

Two sisters and a niece of James Byrd Jr. addressed the media after the execution. Here is the text of the statement read by Clara Taylor:

"Today we witnessed the peaceful and dignified execution of John King for the savage, brutal and inhumane murder of James on June 7, 1998 -- really a modern-day lynching. King, who was the ringleader of the three, had a deeply ingrained hatred of blacks as evidenced by his actions, tattoos and hate-filled rhetoric. He wanted to make a name for himself and his organization by killing a black man. James was chosen as his target. James was shown no mercy as they dragged him while alive behind a pickup truck using a 25-foot logging chain. His body was slung from side to side like a sack of potatoes until he was decapitated. King showed no remorse then as well as tonight. His execution tonight was just punishment for his actions. "The outcry of support and rage from around the world indicated that James' death did make a difference, not just to us, his family, but to others of various races. We are grateful for the full support of the judicial system on all levels -- local, state and federal -- that led to speedy arrests, trials and convictions of all three perpetrators. Tonight after almost 21 years on death row, the death sentence was finally carried out. "James would have been 70 this year. He was deprived of so many priceless memories, such as watching his three children grow up and become productive citizens. He has four grandchildren and his oldest granddaughter will soon graduate from college. "James' legacy continues to be one of peace and nonviolence. As a result of James' death, laws have been passed to recognize hate crimes and to prosecute accordingly. But laws cannot change the heart of man. We continue to look to God for a permanent solution, but meanwhile encourage everyone to continue to get to know one another on a personal level (especially those of a different race or ethnic group). "We believe that open dialogue is one of the keys to overcoming racial prejudice which if left unchecked often can lead to racial hatred and acts of violence."

7:15 p.m. UPDATE

Witnesses have been brought back to the TDCJ administration building, a sign that the execution is over.

A cheer went up from a group of about 25 pro-death penalty supporters gathered.

Though a smaller group than those advocating for abolition of capital punishment, folks in this group, like Shemeekeiaa Smith of Huntsville, were wondering why it took so long to get John William King into the death chamber.

Smith, of Huntsville, recalled being a 23-year-old woman when the hate crime happened in 1998.

"We waited 21 years for justice to be served," she said.

6:40 p.m. UPDATE

Media and other officials witnesses have been led from the TDCJ administrative building to the Huntsville Unit prison across the street, a sign that the execution of John William King is near.

We will hear from them, including our colleague Monique Batson, afterward.

6:26 p.m. UPDATE

Just got word from the Enterprise's Monique Batson, who is waiting to be led into the execution chamber with other witnesses, that the Supreme Court has DENIED a stay for John William King's execution.

We will continue to update.

6 p.m. UPDATE

We are at the scheduled execution time but have yet to hear from the U.S. Supreme Court, which is reviewing a plea for a stay from attorneys for John William King.

That's not necessarily unusual, and officials say the execution must go forward by midnight or be postponed.

Meanwhile, a group of about 50 protesters have gathered outside the Huntsville Unit to decry the death penalty. They just finished broadcasting an instrumental hymn and are waiting like the rest of us.

5 p.m. UPDATE

Newton County Sheriff Billy Rowles, who was the sheriff in Jasper County when James Byrd Jr. was dragged to his death in one of the nation's most shocking hate crimes, has arrived in Huntsville ahead of tonight's scheduled execution of killer John William King.

"The closer it gets, the more you realize someone is fixing to die," Rowles said. "As bad as a guy as he is, he's still a human being fixing to take his last breath."

Rowles said he used to look forward to this day since King, Lawrence Russell Brewer and Shawn Allen Berry were convicted of capital murder. But now he can't help but have mixed emotions about the situation. He said he didn't attend the execution of Brewer, but he felt he needed to be here to witness King's date with justice.

"I've seen people die, and I've had the hollowness in my stomach when you see the life leave someone," Rowles said. "I kind of have that same sentiment right now."

Rowles said he has spoken with King in the past, but that the condemned man has never admitted being there the night of the crime.

"I hope for his sake and the (Byrd) family that he changes his mind before he is executed," he said.

It is not yet known whether King plans any final statement.

4:30 p.m. UPDATE

Still no word from the U.S. Supreme Court on the scheduled 6 p.m. execution of Jasper hate killer John William King. His attorneys are continuing to press for a stay before King is to die by injection.

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice has blocked off the street in front of the Huntsville Unit, an imposing red-brick prison known colloquially as "The Walls," as part of the preparation for the execution.

TDCJ chief spokesman Jeremy Desel has been briefing the gathering reporters on King's activities.

At this moment, King is being held in a small holding cell about 4 steps (10 feet) from the execution chamber. He has not requested any spiritual advisers, but a pair of chaplains are available to him to facilitate his use of the telephone and, if needed, to talk about other matters.

King has had several visitors over the last few days, Desel said. No one will attend the actual execution on his behalf.

Two sisters and a niece of James Byrd Jr., the victim of the vicious hate crime 21 years that landed King and another man on death row and sent a friend of theirs to prison for life, will view the execution along with media and official witnesses.

At the time of his arrest, King was a shocking figure whose body was adorned with white supremacist and other tattoos. Today, Desel said, he looks like a typical mid-40s man, with close-cropped hair and a slight beard.

3 p.m. UPDATE

About four hours before his scheduled execution, John William King was "fairly talkative," and in a "fairly typical mood," according to officials with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

King, 44, is one of three men convicted of capital murder for chaining 49-year-old James Byrd Jr. to the back of a pickup and dragging him three miles before leaving his mangled body the roadside in 1998.

Lawrence Russell Brewer was executed in 2011; Shawn Allen Berry was sentenced to life in prison and will be eligible for parole in 2038.

King's activities since 12:01 a.m. have included cleaning, visiting with friends, showering and reading, according to a log provided by TDCJ. He is currently in a holding cell about 10 feet from the death chamber.

He will not have any witnesses in attendance. Three members of the Byrd family, two of his sisters and one niece, will be witnessing on behalf of the victim.

A motion to stop his execution was filed with the Supreme Court Tuesday after Texas justices ruled 5-4 in favor of execution. No judgement has been made as of now.

> > MORE: King's fate rests with Supreme Court