Despite pleas from the victim’s family, social media, and prosecutors to spare Marcellus Williams’ life, the state of Missouri executed him on Tuesday, September 24, for the 1998 murder of former newspaper reporter Lisha Gayle.
in around six o’clock in the evening local time, Williams was fatally injected in the Eastern Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center in Bonne Terre, Missouri. The 55-year-old Black man released a statement prior to his passing that said, “All praise be to Allah in every situation!”
Prior to this, investigators had found that Gayle had sustained at least 43 stab wounds, including 16 to her belly, neck, head, and chest. Williams maintained his innocence, but a jury found him guilty of first-degree murder, burglary, using a weapon in a criminal offense, and robbery in 2001.
According to the Innocence Project, the prosecutor used peremptory challenges to eliminate several competent Black jurors from the pool.
Several celebrities and activists have already voiced their opinions in light of his execution. We were at the very top, holding and never folding. Shackled to our ankles, it seemed like a bad dream, Meek Mill posted on Instagram, alluding to his song “Ambitionz” from 2015. The native of Philadelphia continued, “May God bless his soul!”
“Marcellus Williams, RIP. Taking a stern look at our nation, Toosii posted on Twitter. “From Gaza to Marcellus Williams, the state has made it clear that it does not care how many letters you sign [or] how many times you call,” stressed another platform user. These individuals don’t give a damn about what you want them to.
RIP Marcellus Williams… smh this country
— Toosii (@toosii2x) September 25, 2024
From Gaza to Marcellus Williams, the state has made it clear that it does not care how many letters you sign, how many times you call. These people do not care what you want them to do. Accepting that is the only way to get to what’s next.
— RELIV (@ArielleIvy_) September 24, 2024
#MarcellusWilliams faces execution on 9/24 for a crime that DNA proves he didn’t commit. Join me, @innocence, and @the_mip in taking action to prevent this irreversible injustice. #SaveMarcellus https://t.co/xENorKWv13
— JT ☆ (@ThegirlJT) September 24, 2024
America is so fucked that Anna Delvey gets to dance on television while Marcellus Williams was executed an hour ago for a crime he didn’t commit
— emmy | NOLA N3 ୨ৎ˙⋆.˚ ᡣ𐭩 (@smasheditup) September 25, 2024
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