Oklahoma Executes Kendrick Simpson: A Controversial End to a Long Legal Battle

Fri Feb 13 2026 01:31:20 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Kendrick Simpson, convicted of a 2006 drive-by shooting that killed two men, was executed in Oklahoma. His case sheds light on the state's capital punishment and ongoing debates surrounding mercy and justice.

Kendrick Simpson was executed by lethal injection in Oklahoma, marking the state's first execution of the year. Convicted for the 2006 drive-by shooting of Anthony Jones and Glen Palmer, Simpson admitted his guilt and offered apologies to the victims' families. Despite claims of PTSD due to a traumatic childhood, his pleas for clemency were denied, and the execution proceeded after the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a late appeal. The case highlights the complexities of capital punishment in the U.S.

McALESTER, Okla. (AP) — Kendrick Simpson, a 45-year-old man who confessed to killing two men during a drive-by shooting in 2006, was executed Thursday, marking Oklahoma's first execution of the year.

Simpson was pronounced dead at 10:19 CT following a three-drug injection administered at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary. He was convicted of the murders of Anthony Jones, 19, and Glen Palmer, 20, after firing into their vehicle following an altercation at an Oklahoma City nightclub.

Having relocated to Oklahoma City from New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Simpson admitted to the killings during a clemency hearing held last month, where he expressed remorse to the families of the victims. “I apologize for murdering your sons,” he said, adding that he would not make excuses for his actions.

However, despite his apology, the state’s five-member Pardon and Parole Board voted narrowly against granting clemency to Simpson. Shortly after, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the execution, not commenting on a last-minute appeal to block it.

Attorneys representing Simpson argued that he suffered from posttraumatic stress disorder due to a traumatic upbringing in a New Orleans housing project, contending that the death penalty should only be for the most heinous offenses. In a clemency application, they stated: “Kendrick is a man worthy of your mercy and compassion.”

On the night of the shooting, prosecutors say Simpson had put an assault rifle in the trunk of the vehicle he and friends drove to a club. Following an altercation resulting in tension, Simpson reportedly followed the victims and fired around 20 rounds into their car, killing both men.

Family members of the victims expressed their support for the execution. Crystal Allison, Palmer’s sister, noted, “He made the choice for him so I stand here today to make the choice for my family. Yes, we would like to see him executed for what he did — he executed my brother.”

Oklahoma’s Attorney General praised the decision to deny clemency, labeling Simpson as a “ruthless and violent killer.” The state employs the method of injection using midazolam, followed by vecuronium bromide and potassium chloride to cause death.

This execution follows a broader trend in the U.S., where capital punishment remains a contentious issue. In 2025, a total of 47 executions took place nationwide, with Florida leading the charge. Oklahoma’s execution of Simpson was the second scheduled execution of the year, with another planned in Florida soon.