Alabama executes man with nitrogen gas for 1993 murder over $200 drug debt

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Source: Associated Press

U.S. NEWS
Alabama executes man with nitrogen gas for 1993 murder over $200 drug debt

BY KIM CHANDLER
Updated 9:32 PM EDT, October 23, 2025

ATMORE, Ala. (AP) -- An Alabama man convicted of helping to burn a man alive in 1993 over a $200 drug debt was executed by nitrogen gas on Thursday.

Anthony Boyd, 54, was pronounced dead at 6:33 p.m. at William C. Holman Correctional Facility, authorities said. The execution was carried out by nitrogen gas, a method Alabama began using last year. Boyd was sentenced to death for his role in killing Gregory Huguley in Talladega County. Prosecutors said Huguley was set on fire after he didn't pay for $200 worth of cocaine.

Boyd used his final words to proclaim his innocence and criticize the criminal justice system. … "I didn't kill anybody. I didn't participate in killing anybody," he said. ... "There can be no justice until we change this system," he continued. He said he wanted to express love to those who are still fighting, before closing with, "Let's get it."

The execution appeared to take longer than prior nitrogen gas executions. The state does not reveal the exact time the gas began flowing.

At about 5:57 p.m. Boyd clenched his fist, raised his head off the gurney slightly and began shaking. He then raised his legs off the gurney several inches. At about 6:01 p.m. he began a long series of heaving breaths that lasted at least 15 minutes, before becoming still. The curtain closed to the execution chamber at 6:27 p.m. The prison commissioner said the gas is kept flowing for five minutes after monitoring shows the inmate no longer has a heartbeat.

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Read more: https://apnews.com/article/alabama-execution-nitrogen-gas-85850653469135f1a8c7482ca0d4f990

[Jilly_in_VA]

1. He had requested a firing squad

The Supreme Court said NO---all except for out frearless three, Sotomayor, Kagan, and Brown Jackson. You know those women will stand for some kind of humanity, even in a case like this. The rest of them are ghouls.

[Lithos]

2. This "humane" execution is never about the sentenced

It's to make it easier for those who watch it to believe they died peacefully.

Hearing how the three-drug cocktail looked peaceful, but in reality, painfully destroyed the lungs of the condemned over minutes until the final drug was applied. It only looked painful because they were immobilized.

It's a charade only.

[AverageOldGuy]

3. Let me guess:

Black.

After all, it is Alabama.

Talladega County adjoins Calhoun County which was the site of KKK attack on Freedom Rider bus in 1961. Not much has changed since - - - wife's family is from there and they are still bigoted assholes, which is why we have had no contact with them going on 30 years.

[Mysterian]

4. The government should not have the power of life and death

Just look at the ruling regime in the USA and argue differently.

[Jilly_in_VA]

5. Well of course not

There shouldn't be a death penalty at all, but it's all about REVENGE. It's not about punishment. It's that old eye for an eye. And this guy swore, right up to the end, that he did NOT kill anyone. He might have been present, in which case it would have been felony murder (which is another kettle of fish entirely and one I'll happily argue against) but he swore he took no part in the killing.

And yes, of course he was Black. What else?