Texas Executes Edward Busby in State’s 600th Execution

Edward Busby was executed by lethal injection in Huntsville after the U.S. Supreme Court lifted a stay Thursday afternoon that cited a federal appeals court's concerns about his eligibility for capital punishment. Texas's move to execute Edward Busby on Thursday marks the state's 600th execution, solidifying its status as leading the nation in death penalties. Busby, who was convicted in 2005 in the deadly robbery and kidnapping of 78-year-old Laura Crane, was executed by lethal injection in Huntsville after the U.S. Supreme Court lifted a stay Thursday afternoon that cited a federal appeals court's concerns about his eligibility for capital punishment due to intellectual disability. Busby was initially granted the stay last week, according to the Texas Tribune. Within his final statements, Busby apologized for Crane's death and said, "he never meant anything bad to happen to her." He described Crane as a "lovely woman," and added that he'd "take the blame if it will help." Busby was reportedly declared dead at 8:11 p.m. As Texas' use of capital punishment has declined in recent years, other trends continue, including more inmates from Bexar, Dallas, Harris, and Tarrant counties being subject to execution than in the state's other counties. Busby was convicted in Tarrant County, the county that is the third leading in Texas for executions, per the Texas Tribune, and second in the number of inmates on death row. There are reportedly 166 people currently on death row, with some who have convictions dating back to 1977, and most are in some phase of the appellate process. The next executions are scheduled in mid-September for Ramey Ker'sean Olajuwa and LeJames Norman, who were sentenced to death for shooting three people in their own apartment during a robbery. Two other executions are set to take place later this year.