Feb. 29
TEXAS----execution
Leader of 'Texas 7' prison-break gang put to death
The leader of the fugitive gang known as the "Texas 7" was executed Wednesday
for killing a suburban Dallas police officer during a robbery 11 years ago
after organizing and pulling off Texas' biggest prison break.
George Rivas, 41, from El Paso, received lethal injection for gunning down
Aubrey Hawkins, a 29-year-old Irving police officer who interrupted the gang's
holdup of a sporting goods store on Christmas Eve in 2000. The seven inmates
had fled a South Texas prison about two weeks earlier.
The gang was caught in Colorado about a month after the officer's death. One
committed suicide rather than be arrested. Rivas and 5 others with lengthy
sentences who bolted with him were returned to Texas where they separately were
convicted of capital murder and sentenced to die.
Rivas became the 2nd of the group executed.
"I do apologize for everything that happened. Not because I'm here, but for
closure in your hearts," Rivas said Wednesday evening in a statement intended
for Hawkins' family. "I really do believe you deserve that."
The slain officer's relatives were absent, but 4 officers who worked with him
and the district attorney who prosecuted the case attended on his family's
behalf. They stood in the death chamber watching through a window just a few
feet from Rivas.
The inmate thanked his friends who were watching through another window and
said he loved them. A Canadian woman whom Rivas recently married by proxy, also
looked on.
"I am grateful for everything in my life," Rivas said. "To my wife, I will be
waiting for you."
10 minutes later, at 6:22 p.m., he was pronounced dead.
More than 2 dozen police officers in uniforms stood quietly in a line outside
the Huntsville prison during the execution, then walked in unison to stand
behind the state criminal justice spokesman as he announced Rivas' death.
Texas' parole board voted 7-0 this week to reject a clemency petition for
Rivas. No 11th-hour appeals were made to try to head off the execution, the 2nd
this year in the nation's most active death penalty state.
Rivas and accomplices he handpicked for the escape broke out of the Texas
Department of Criminal Justice Connally Unit, about an hour south of San
Antonio, on Dec. 13, 2000. They overpowered workers, stole their clothes, broke
into the prison armory for weapons and drove off in a prison truck.
They left behind an ominous note: "You haven't heard the last of us yet."
While out of prison, they supported themselves by committing robberies.
Hawkins was shot 11 times and run over with a stolen SUV driven by Rivas as the
gang held up a sporting goods store closing on the holiday eve. They drove off
with loot that included $70,000 in cash, 44 firearms and ammunition for the
guns.
They were arrested a month later in Colorado, ending a six-week nationwide
manhunt. One of the fugitives, Larry Harper, committed suicide as officers
closed in.
In 2008, accomplice Michael Rodriguez, 45, who at the time of the breakout had
a life term for arranging the slaying of his wife, ordered his appeals dropped
and was executed. The 4 others remain on death row awaiting the outcome of
court appeals.
"Today is not about George Rivas," said Toby Shook, the former Dallas County
assistant district attorney who prosecuted Rivas and the others for Hawkins'
death. "Today is about justice for Aubrey Hawkins and Aubrey's fellow police
officers."
Rivas planned the escape while serving 17 life sentences for aggravated
kidnapping and aggravated robbery and another life sentence for burglary.
One of his trial lawyers, Wayne Huff, has said Rivas picked accomplices for the
breakout "who probably were more dangerous than he was" and failed to consider
they might get caught doing robberies.
"When that cop pulled up, no one knew what to do," Huff said, calling the
officer's slaying "just a tragic situation."
Rivas and 2 other members of the fugitive gang were arrested at a convenience
store near a trailer park in Woodland Park, Colo. 2 others were in a motor home
at the trailer park, where Harper shot himself to death. The last 2 were
apprehended at a motel in Colorado Springs, Colo.
The men had told the people who ran the RV park they were Christian
missionaries from Texas, but a neighbor recognized them as the case was
profiled on the "America's Most Wanted" TV show and called police.
The 4 "Texas 7" members still awaiting execution are Patrick Murphy Jr. 49;
Joseph Garcia, 40; Randy Halprin, 34; and Donald Newbury, 49. Newbury was set
for injection in early February but was spared, at least temporarily, by a U.S.
Supreme Court order.
Rivas becomes the 2nd condemned inmate to be put to death this year in Texas
and the 479th overall since the state resumed capital punishment on December 7,
1982. Rivas becomes the 240th condemned inmate to be put to death since Rick
Perry became governor in 2001, meaning that Perry has now been governor for
more than 1/2 of all executions in Texas in the modern era.
Rivas becomes the 6th condemned inmate to be put to death this year in the USA
and the 1283rd overall since the nation resumed executions on January 17, 1977.
(sources: Associated Press & Rick Halperin)
******************
The execution of George Rivas
WFAA reporter Jason Whitely is a media witness to the execution of convicted
police killer and Texas 7 gang member George Rivas. Here are his dispatches
from Huntsville leading up to and immediately following the execution.
7:10p The lethal drugs took effect on George Rivas very quickly. He was
pronounced dead at 6:22 p.m., 10 minutes after the injection began.
7:09p We've now received the full text of George Rivas' final statement:
First of all, for the Aubrey Hawkins family, I do apologize for everything that
happened. Not because I am here, but for closure in your hearts. I really
believe you deserve that.
To my wife, Cheri. I am so grateful you’re in my life. I love you so dearly.
Thank you to my sister and dear friend, Katherine Cox, my son and my family.
Friends and family, I love you so dearly.
To my friends, all the guys on the row, you have my courtesy and respect.
Thank you to the people involved and the courtesy of the officers. I am
grateful for everything in my life. To my wife, take care of yourself, I will
be waiting for you. I love you, God bless.
I am ready to go.
7:07p Prior to his execution George Rivas told his new wife he loved her. "I am
grateful for everything in my life. I love you. God bless. I am ready to go."
Rivas was calm, smiling and appeared to be at peace with what was to follow.
6:31p Before being put to death, George Rivas said: "For Aubrey Hawkins'
family, I apologized for everything that happened ... not because I'm here, but
for closure in your hearts. I really believe you deserve that.
6:26p Texas 7 gang leader George Rivas was executed by lethal injection at 6:22
p.m. for the murder of Irving police Officer Aubrey Hawkins.
5:59p George Rivas will be strapped to a gurney, arms extended, and an IV for
the lethal injection will be inserted in both arms. Once He's strapped down,
the warden will call for witnesses to enter the 2 observation rooms.
5:58p Once witnesses are in place, guards will ask George Rivas if he wants to
make a final statement. He said he did. 5:48p Guards move George Rivas from his
holding cell, 15 feet to the execution chamber. The lethal injection procedure
is scheduled to begin a few minutes after 6 o'clock.
5:22p One of George Rivas' four witnesses did not appear for his execution.
Dallas County District Attorney Craig Watkins will attend instead.
5:03p 3 drugs are used in the lethal injection cocktail. That used to cost
about $86, but the price has recently skyrocketed to more than $1,300 because
the state has been forced to resort to a more expensive substitute for one of
the drugs being used.
5:01p "I met with him a few minutes ago along with the warden and the chaplain,
and Rivas stated that he's... all these years he's made it clear that he's
ready to go," said Jason Clark, a spokesman for the Texas Department of
Criminal Justice. "He did say that he was going to make a last statement."
Rivas is said to have made several personal calls from a phone provided by the
prison, He asked five friends to witness his lethal injection.
4:50p More than 15 Irving police officers are standing outside the Walls Unit
where George Rivas will soon be executed for killing Irving Officer Aubrey
Hawkins on Christmas Eve 2000.
4:42p The widow of Irving police Officer Aubrey Hawkins, who was killed by
George Rivas, will not attend the execution. She told News 8 that she felt no
closure after being present at the last execution of a Texas 7 gang member in
2009.
4:40p George Rivas was served barbequeue chicken for his final meal, just like
the other inmates at the Walls Unit.
4:30p George Rivas' appeals have all been denied. Clemency is denied. The state
says attorneys for the convicted killer do not plan a last-minute challenge to
the scheduled 6 o'clock execution.
3:49p Texas no longer offers a special "last meal" to condemned inmates. At 4
o'clock, George Rivas will get the same meal the rest of the unit gets today.
2:48p WFAA photojournalist Taylor Lumsden is following five Irving Police
Department vehicles en route to Huntsville to witness the execution of George
Rivas.
12:47p Arriving at the Walls Unit, George Rivas goes to a holding cell 15 feet
away from the death chamber. He is alone and unrestrained and can use a phone.
12:45p George Rivas will be fingerprinted and given a new white uniform upon
arriving at the Walls unit following lunch for his scheduled 6 o'clock
execution.
11:50a Guards will soon move George Rivas from Death Row about 40 miles to the
Walls Unit for a scheduled 6 p.m. execution.
11:45a George Rivas spent this morning meeting with friends behind glass at
Texas Death Row.
(source: WFAA)
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