Johnathan Moore: Executed by Texas Last Night

Johnathan Moore, 32 was executed by the state of Texas January 17th for the murder of San Antonio police officer, Fabian Dominguez 29, in 1995. Moore was executed by lethal injection and was pronounced dead at 6:21, just eight minuets after the lethal drug was administered.

Moore, repeatedly apologized to Dominguez's widow saying "It was done out of fear, stupidity, and immaturity. It wasn't until I got locked up and saw the newspaper, I saw has face and smile and I realized I had killed a good man" Moore told Jennifer Morgan, who stood next to the death chamber window surrounded by comforting friends, according to Michael Gracyk, witness and reporter for Associated Press. Moore wished her happiness, and counseled a friend of his who was witness, to quit using heroin and methadone. He told his father he loved him.

Five inmates from Polunsky Unit Death Row in Texas are scheduled to be executed in January, Moore being the second one. Texas leads the nation in executions, and ranks third in death row inmate population. Texas sometimes is referred to as the "Nation's busiest capital punishment state."

Moore and two companions were burglarizing a home in 1995, when Mr. Dominguez interrupted the robbery when he was returning home from work when he spotted a suspicious car and stopped to investigate. It is reported that Moore was seated in the passenger side of the car when he open fired with a 25-caliber handgun. Moore then retrieved the officer's service revolver and shot him three more times in the head. Moore was arrested the following day.

Moore challenged the states procedure of lethal injection but it was rejected Tuesday by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, and the Supreme Court then rejected a similar appeal about two hours before Moore's execution.

Since the state of Texas resumed capital punishment, Moore is the first to be executed for killing a San Antonio police officer. The San Antonio Police Officer's Association chartered a bus so approximately two dozen officers could honor their colleague inside the Huntsville Unit, where executions take place.

Moore's codefendants Peter Dowdle, 29, is serving a 25 year prison term, and Paul Cameron, also 29, is serving life.

Following his conviction, Moore fired his lawyers so he could represent himself, then rehired them the following day. Moore tried to escape before the trial during a visit to a health clinic by grabbing a stun gun and a can of pepper spray hidden in the restroom, and over powering a guard. Officials found a handcuff key in his shoe, as reported by Associated Press.

Earlier, Moore was interviewed by CourtTv News and said "I haven't accomplished anything. I wish I had, now looking in hindsight I wish I had done something to get my name out there, but I didn't, so here I am now, haven't done anything with my life, and now I'm going to get killed." You can view the interview here:

http://www.courttv.com/facing_death/johnathan_moore/interview_ctv.html