Alabama Inmate Executed for Role in 1993 Robbery and Shooting Death of Edward Lee Williams

An Alabama inmate, Christopher Lee McWhorter, was executed Thursday by lethal injection for his role in the 1993 robbery and shooting death of Edward Lee Williams, 34. McWhorter was three months past his 18th birthday at the time of the killing.

Prosecutors said McWhorter conspired with two younger teenagers, including Williams’ 15-year-old son, to steal money and other items from Williams’ home and then kill him. The jury that convicted McWhorter recommended a death sentence by a vote of 10-2, which a judge, who had the final decision, imposed.

McWhorter’s execution was the first in Alabama since the state resumed executions in May 2019 after a five-year hiatus. He was the ninth inmate to be executed in Alabama since then.

The execution was carried out at the William C. Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore, Alabama, and was witnessed by a small group of people, including Williams’ family members. McWhorter’s attorneys had sought to have the execution stayed, arguing that he was not mentally competent to be executed. However, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected the request.

McWhorter’s execution is the latest in a series of executions of inmates convicted of capital murder in Alabama. The state has executed more inmates since 2019 than any other state in the country.