Oklahoma executed Kendrick Simpson on Thursday, marking the state’s first death sentence of 2026. Simpson, 45, had been convicted of killing two men in a 2006 drive-by shooting.
Details of the Crime
Simpson was sentenced for killing Anthony Jones, 19, and Glen Palmer, 20, after an altercation outside an Oklahoma City nightclub. Prosecutors say he placed an assault rifle in a vehicle trunk. Then, he and his friends drove to the club. Later, they followed Jones and Palmer from a nearby gas station. Simpson fired about 20 rounds into their car. Both men were shot multiple times.
Meanwhile, Simpson had moved to Oklahoma City from New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. This added context to his background.
Clemency Denied
At a clemency hearing last month, Simpson admitted to the killings. He apologized to the victims’ families and a third man who was in the car. “I apologize for murdering your sons. I don’t make any excuses,” he said. Despite this, the Pardon and Parole Board narrowly denied clemency. Furthermore, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a last-minute appeal to halt the execution.
Defense Arguments
Simpson’s attorneys argued that he suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder due to childhood trauma in a New Orleans housing project. They said he did not represent the worst offenders and urged mercy. “Kendrick is a man worthy of your compassion,” they wrote. However, the board did not grant relief.
Victims’ Families and State Response
Victims’ families supported the execution. Glen Palmer’s sister, Crystal Allison, wrote, “Yes, we would like to see him executed for what he did — he executed my brother.” Additionally, Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond called Simpson a “ruthless and violent killer who hunted his victims without remorse.”
The state carried out the execution using a three-drug protocol. Officials used midazolam, followed by vecuronium bromide to halt breathing, and potassium chloride to stop the heart. Simpson was pronounced dead at 10:19 CT at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester.
U.S. Context
Simpson’s execution was the second planned in the U.S. this year. Earlier this week, Florida executed Ronald Palmer Heath. Last year, Florida led the nation with 19 executions. Alabama, South Carolina, and Texas tied for second. Meanwhile, the next scheduled U.S. execution is Florida’s planned lethal injection of Melvin Trotter.
