Missouri executed Marcellus Williams: 'Tonight, Missouri lynched another innocent black man'

Williams executed in Missouri for 1998 murder, despite innocence claims and clemency pleas from victim’s family.

Marcellus "Khaliifah" Williams was executed in Missouri on Tuesday for the 1998 murder of former newspaper reporter Lisha Gayle, despite significant calls from both the prosecutor and the victim’s family to spare his life. 

Williams, who always maintained his innocence—a claim supported by his defense team and later prosecutors—became the third inmate executed in Missouri this year and the 15th nationwide. 

He was pronounced dead at 6:10 p.m. after a lethal injection, as reported by the Missouri Department of Corrections.

"Tonight, we all bear witness to Missouri’s grotesque exercise of state power," stated Williams' attorney, Tricia Rojo Bushnell, highlighting the efforts made by prosecutors to undo the conviction. 

Williams' son, Marcellus Williams Jr., described the execution as "a murder."

Convicted for the brutal killing of Gayle, who was stabbed 43 times during a burglary, Williams faced a lack of DNA evidence linking him to the crime scene. 

Recent months saw renewed support for his clemency, with Gayle’s family expressing their desire for him to live, stating, "Marcellus’ execution is not necessary."

Despite the outcry, Governor Mike Parson and the Missouri Supreme Court denied Williams clemency. 

The U.S. Supreme Court also declined to intervene, with the three liberal justices expressing they would have granted a stay.

Before his execution, Williams shared his final meal of chicken wings and tater tots and spent 90 minutes with Imam Jalahii Kacem. His last words were, "All praise be to Allah in every situation."

Bushnell described Williams as "a kind and thoughtful man" who contributed positively to those around him, particularly in his role as an imam. 

She thanked the prosecutor who fought for his life, emphasizing the injustice of the situation.

The execution sparked outrage from various leaders and advocacy groups, including the NAACP and Black Lives Matter. 

Congresswoman Cori Bush criticized Governor Parson for ignoring pleas for clemency, stating he showed "how the death penalty is wielded without regard for innocence, compassion, equity, or humanity."

NAACP President Derrick Johnson condemned the execution, stating, "Governor Parson had the responsibility to save this innocent life, and he didn’t." Black Lives Matter echoed this sentiment, calling the act "sickening."