Robert Wayne Harris Executed for Murders, Wanted God's Blessing Before Death
Robert Wayne Harris was executed in Texas last night for the murders of his former colleagues. His death brought a small amount of comfort to the families of the deceased, but others argued that Harris should never have been sentenced to death by lethal injection.
In 2000, Harris was let go from his job at the Mi-T-Fine Car Wash in Irving, Texas after exposing himself to a female customer. He then took his revenge on his former co-workers by shooting five workers; two died instantly. Harris was not arrested until the next day after telling police he stumbled upon the bloody mess.
Harris never denied the shootings but argued that he should not be sentenced to death due to diminished capacity.
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"Our whole aim was to get him a life sentence. I keep hoping, I'm hoping something will come through for Robert," his lawyer, Brad Lollar, told the press earlier this week.
Prosecutors argued that Harris methodically thought out and planned the brutal attack.
"I remember just the vicious nature of the offense and the fact that it was very well thought-out and conceived by Robert Harris. He knew from experience that they would not have deposited the weekend proceeds, and he was going to get the maximum amount of money that he possibly could obtain during this robbery," Greg Davis, lead trial prosecutor, said in a statement.
Harris also confessed to killing a missing Irving woman and was charged but never tried for her murder. His death was carried out in front of victims' families, who reportedly hugged after he was officially pronounced dead.
Harris expressed love for his brother and friends who were also in attendance, according to the Associated Press.
"I'm going home. I'm going home. Don't worry about me. I'll be alright. God bless, and the Texas Rangers, Texas Rangers," he said before falling asleep and then dying.
