Theexecution of Charles Brooks Jr. (September 1, 1942 – December 7, 1982), also known asShareef Ahmad Abdul-Rahim,[1] was carried out on December 7, 1982, at theHuntsville Unit inTexas. Brooks Jr., then 34, murdered 26-year-old mechanicDavid Preston Gregory (March 29, 1950 – December 14, 1976) inFort Worth, Texas. Brooks Jr. was convicted and sentenced to death in 1977. Brooks Jr. was the first person in the United States to be executed using the, then, newly adopted method oflethal injection.[2][3][4] He was also the first prisoner executed in Texas since 1964, and the firstAfrican-American to be executed anywhere in the United States in the post-Gregg era.
Brooks was raised in a family inFort Worth, Texas. He attendedI.M. Terrell High School, where he played football.
He had served time at theUnited States Penitentiary, Leavenworth for illegal possession of firearms.[3]
On December 14, 1976, Brooks went to a used car lot and asked to test drive a car. Themechanic, David Gregory, accompanied him on the drive. After Brooks picked up his accomplice, Woody Loudres, they put the mechanic in thetrunk of the car and Brooks and Loudres drove to amotel. There the mechanic was bound to a chair withcoat hangers, gagged with tape and then shot in the head.
Neither Brooks nor Loudres would say who fired the shot and therefore the state sought the death penalty for both men. Brooks received the death sentence on April 25, 1978.[3][5] Loudres also received the death penalty, but his conviction was overturned on appeal, and he entered a plea bargain in exchange for a 40-year sentence. He was paroled after serving 11 years.[6]
TheSupreme Court of the United States rejected by 6–3 a petition to grant a stay of execution.[3][4] The State Board of Pardons and Paroles recommended by 2–1 that the execution proceed.[3]
Brooks was held on death row at theEllis Unit that housed condemned men.[7]
After alast meal consisting of aT-bone steak,french fries,ketchup,Worcestershire sauce,biscuits, peachcobbler andiced tea,[3][8] Brooks was rolled into the death chamber at theHuntsville Unit inHuntsville, Texas. There he made his final statement. Brooks had converted toIslam while in prison and said a prayer.[9]
Brooks was executed on December 7, 1982, at the age of 40.
| Executions carried out by lethal injection | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by new method | Charles Brooks Jr. December 7, 1982 | Succeeded by |
| Executions carried out in the United States | ||
| Preceded by | Charles Brooks Jr. –Texas December 7, 1982 | Succeeded by |