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Lance Shockley Executed for 2005 Murder of Missouri State Trooper Carl Graham
Smithers became Florida's 14th execution this year, setting a state record, while Shockley was Missouri's first execution in over a year, amid a rise in U.S. executions in 2025.
- About an hour later in Missouri, Lance Shockley was executed for the 2005 murder of a Missouri state trooper, despite ongoing legal disputes over DNA testing.
- Victims included Denise Roach and Christy Cowan, while prosecutors say Shockley ambushed and shot Sgt. Graham in Carter County, Tennessee, from behind and in the face.
- Courts and officials refused Shockley's attorneys' recent requests for DNA testing and denied stays and clemency shortly before the execution, with Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe rejecting clemency on Monday.
- The states announced immediate outcomes: Samuel Lee Smithers was pronounced dead at 6:15 p.m. ET, becoming Florida's 14th inmate executed this year.
- Analysts note the month could be the busiest for U.S. executions since May 2011 if all scheduled cases proceed, with five more planned this year putting the U.S. on pace for at least 44 executions, USA TODAY analysis cited.
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21 Articles
21 Articles
Samuel Smithers, 72, was sentenced to death in 1999 for the 1996 murders of Christy Cowan and Denise Roach in Tampa. Lance Shockley, 48, was convicted of the 2005 murder of police sergeant Carl Graham.
Coverage Details
Total News Sources21
Leaning Left4Leaning Right5Center5Last UpdatedBias Distribution36% Center, 36% Right
Bias Distribution
- 36% of the sources are Center, 36% of the sources lean Right
36% Right
L 28%
C 36%
R 36%
Factuality
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