Chadwick Banks, 43, killed by lethal injection at Florida state prison after double murder near Tallahassee

This article is more than 5 years old

This article is more than 5 years old

A Florida man who fatally shot his sleeping wife and then raped and killed his young stepdaughter 22 years ago has been put to death for the child’s slaying.

Chadwick Banks, 43, was pronounced dead at 7.27pm local time on Thursday after a lethal injection at Florida state prison, the office of governor Rick Scott said.

Banks was condemned to die for the September 1992 killing of 10-year-old Melody Cooper. Banks also received a life sentence for the murder of his wife, Cassandra Banks, in a community outside the state capital of Tallahassee.

Authorities said Banks was drinking and playing pool at a bar before going home about 3am the night of the slayings. Banks shot his wife point-blank in the head and then raped and shot his stepdaughter, according to authorities.