Texas executes man for brutal 2012 murder of grandmother

A 49-year-old death row inmate named Matthew Lee Johnson was executed by Texas on Tuesday evening for the brutal murder of a grandmother during a robbery in 2012. Johnson was the second person to be executed in the United States on that day and the 18th person this year. The victim, Nancy Harris, was killed at a convenience store in Garland, where she worked, after Johnson entered the store carrying a lighter and lighter fluid. He poured the fluid on Harris, robbed her, and then set her on fire, resulting in her death five days later. In his final words, Johnson apologized to Harris’ family. The Texas Attorney General, Ken Paxton, stated that Johnson received the deserved punishment for his crime, emphasizing the importance of holding vicious criminals accountable. Johnson’s defense argued that his actions were influenced by drug and alcohol abuse, as well as a history of childhood sexual abuse. Despite filing several appeals, Johnson’s requests for clemency and a stay of execution were rejected. He is the fourth person to be executed in Texas this year and the second in the United States on that day.