Shockley execution date set 

Stephanie Kim, Editor

The Supreme Court announced the upcoming execution date for Lance Shockley, 28. He is scheduled for lethal injection in October.

The jury deadlocked during his 2009 trial, and Missouri is one of two states where the judge can choose the death sentence when a jury can’t decide–the other being Indiana. Shockley was convicted of the 2005 murder of Sergeant Carl Graham Jr.

Sgt Graham had been checking a single fatality traffic crash that Shockley was involved in, which was the supposed motive for murder. Sgt Graham was found in his driveway; autopsy revealed he was shot with a rifle and a shotgun. No murder weapon was found.

Many oppose a judge’s ability to impose a death sentence without the jury’s decision. According to a brief from Project on Government Oversight (POGO) from 2000-2018, in MO cases without jury deadlock, the jury imposed a death sentence in 64% of cases. And in deadlocked cases with the judge making the decision, it was imposed in 86% of cases. Shockley would be the first put to death this year, and Missouri executed four people last year.

The warrant of execution from the Supreme Court of Missouri reads as follows,

“Now on this day, Appellant, Lance C. Shockley, being in custody pursuant to a sentence of death heretofore rendered against him by the Circuit Court of Carter County, and affirmed by this Court, it is therefore considered, ordered and adjudged by this Court that Lance C. Shockley be and remain in the custody of the Department of Corrections, and, thereafter, within the twenty-four hour period beginning at 6 p.m. on October 14, 2025, under the supervision and direction of the director of said department, shall suffer death. Said director is directed to make return of this warrant to this Court showing the time, mode, and manner in which this warrant was executed.”