Texas is preparing to carry out the execution of a man convicted in the fatal shootings of three people in 2005, while a separate execution planned in Georgia has been temporarily halted by a judge. The developments come as several U.S. states move forward with death penalty cases this week.
Texas Set to Execute LeJames Norman in 2005 Triple Murder
LeJames Norman, 40, is scheduled to receive a lethal injection Wednesday at 6 p.m. Central time at the state penitentiary in Huntsville, Texas. He was sentenced to death for the killings of Samuel Roberts, 24, Tiffani Peacock, 18, and Celso Lopez, 38.
The three victims were shot inside the home they shared in Edna, a small rural city located approximately 100 miles southwest of Houston. Investigators said Norman and his co-defendant, Ker’Sean Ramey, believed cocaine was being kept at the residence and intended to steal it.
According to court records, the attempted robbery ended in the deaths of all three victims. Lopez was shot four times, including three times in the back of his head. Peacock suffered two gunshot wounds to the head, while Roberts was shot five times in the chest, neck and head.
Norman was arrested approximately five months after the killings while attempting to cross into the United States from Mexico. He later pleaded guilty to capital murder, leaving a jury to determine his punishment.
Legal Appeals and Clemency Efforts Rejected
Norman’s execution remains scheduled after recent efforts to stop it were unsuccessful.
The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles voted Monday against reducing his sentence or recommending a 90-day reprieve. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals also rejected a request from his attorneys for a stay of execution.
His lawyers have since asked the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene in the case. Their legal arguments include claims involving actions by prosecutors.
In 2017, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to review an appeal concerning questions about the performance of Norman’s trial attorneys.
Norman’s co-defendant, Ker’Sean Ramey, was also sentenced to death. His execution is scheduled for next week.
Georgia Judge Halts Scheduled Execution of Stacey Humphreys
In Georgia, a judge has temporarily stopped the execution of Stacey Humphreys, 53, who was scheduled to receive a lethal injection Wednesday evening.
Humphreys was convicted of murdering two real estate agents, Cyndi Williams, 33, and Lori Brown, 21, in 2003. The killings occurred at a model home in Powder Springs, an Atlanta suburb.
Prosecutors said Humphreys entered the sales office during the day, forced the women to provide their bank PINs and shot them. Court filings state that more than $3,000 was withdrawn from their accounts.
Humphreys’ defense team has requested a resentencing hearing under the newly enacted Georgia Survivor Justice Act. The law allows certain people who experienced domestic or childhood abuse to seek reconsideration of their sentences when the abuse contributed to their crimes.
Cobb County Superior Court Judge Tyler Browning issued a stay late Tuesday to allow the legal proceedings to move forward.
Further Court Action Could Determine Georgia Execution
The state has indicated that it may appeal the judge’s decision. The stay could potentially be lifted if an appellate court rules before the scheduled execution time.
Humphreys’ attorneys have also raised concerns about a juror who allegedly provided misleading information during jury selection and influenced other jurors during sentencing. Courts have previously rejected those claims on procedural grounds.
His lawyers have separately challenged the participation of a member of Georgia’s State Board of Pardons and Paroles, citing a potential conflict of interest. The board denied his clemency request Tuesday.
Texas has carried out five executions in 2026, while Georgia has not executed anyone this year. The outcome of the pending court proceedings will determine whether Humphreys’ execution can proceed.
