Texas put Jamaal Howard to death on Wednesday evening. He was 46 years old. Prison workers gave him a deadly drug at a prison in Huntsville. He died at 8:03 p.m. This was the first US execution since workers failed to put Christa Pike to death the week before.

Howard’s lawyers asked courts to stop the execution. They said Texas planned to use the same drug used in Pike’s case. They feared the drug was old and might not work correctly. Two courts and the US Supreme Court said no. Texas Governor Greg Abbott also did not give Howard a 30-day delay.

Howard killed Vickie Swartout during a store robbery in 2000. He was 20, and she was 42. He shot her and took cigarettes and $114. Before his death, Howard spoke to her family. He said he was sorry and asked them to forgive him.