{
  "id": 12802438,
  "title": "Texas execution first in US since Christa Pike survived botched lethal injection",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/texas-execution-first-in-us-since-christa-pike-survived-botched",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-08T06:08:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Euronews",
    "slug": "euronews",
    "url": "https://www.euronews.com/2026/10/08/texas-execution-first-in-us-since-christa-pike-survived-botched-lethal-injection"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In a historic moment for the United States, Texas carried out its first execution of the year on Wednesday, following a botched lethal injection of Christa Pike. The condemned man, Jamaal Howard, 46, was pronounced dead at 8:03 pm at the Huntsville state prison after receiving a fatal dose of pentobarbital. Howard had been convicted of the 2000 murder of clerk Vickie Swartout during a convenience store robbery in Silsbee, Texas.\n\nAs the drug took effect, Howard reportedly gasped and took a few breaths, before making snoring sounds and coughing. Movement ceased within around 30 seconds, and he was pronounced dead 19 minutes later. Prior to the execution, Howard addressed some members of Swartout's family, apologizing and asking for forgiveness, stating that he was in a good state of mind to find peace and the Lord.\n\nHoward's attorneys had unsuccessfully attempted to halt the execution by questioning the quality of Texas' execution drugs and arguing that Howard was intellectually disabled. The Texas court denied the requests without comment. The Supreme Court had previously barred the execution of intellectually disabled individuals but gave states some discretion in determining such disabilities. The state argued that Howard's attorneys did not provide evidence meeting the requirements for claiming intellectual disability, and the Supreme Court declined to intervene, allowing the execution to proceed.\n\nSince the beginning of the year, Texas has executed seven people, a significant increase from the previous years. Two more executions are scheduled for November – death row inmates John Rubio and Reinaldo Dennes.",
  "summary": "Texas has executed seven people so far this year, up from five in both 2025 and 2024. A further two executions are scheduled to take place in the state in November.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 6,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Global News",
        "title": "Why did Christa Pike’s attempted execution fail? What medical experts say",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/why-did-christa-pikes-attempted-execution-fail-what-medical-experts",
        "published": "2026-10-07T18:43:58.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "CBS News",
        "title": "Christa Pike's attorneys appear in court after failed execution",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/christa-pikes-attorneys-appear-in-court-after-failed-execution",
        "published": "2026-10-07T18:54:53.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Guardian US",
        "title": "Texas set to carry out first US execution since botched lethal injection of Christa Pike",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/texas-set-to-carry-out-first-us-execution-since-botched-lethal",
        "published": "2026-10-07T20:58:51.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "DW English (Top Stories)",
        "title": "Christa Pike 'angry and confused' after botched execution",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/christa-pike-angry-and-confused-after-botched-execution",
        "published": "2026-10-07T21:23:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "Trying to execute Christa Pike again would push into uncharted legal territory, experts say",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/trying-to-execute-christa-pike-again-would-push-into-uncharted-legal",
        "published": "2026-10-08T00:49:56.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}