Robert Wayne Harris
Robert Harris, a Black man, was executed by the State of Texas by lethal injection at the Huntsville Unit in Huntsville on September 20, 2012, at age 40. In his last statement, as recorded by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, he said he loved the people he named, including Billy, English, Hart, Eloise and Dwight, and asked that someone take care of Dwight. His brother and three friends watched from the viewing area. His lawyers had argued that he had a low IQ and that qualified Black potential jurors were improperly kept off the jury. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to stay the execution two hours before it was carried out.
Cause of death, as reported: Executed by the state. His lawyers argued he had a low IQ and that qualified Black potential jurors were improperly kept off the jury.
Reported by: Texas Department of Criminal Justice (the agency that held him); his lawyers.
Custody: Serving a sentence.