Texas executes convicted killer claiming innocence as cousin’s last-minute confession falls flat

A Texas antheral who maintained his innocence successful a fatal robbery that killed 2 men astir 2 decades agone was executed this week. 

James Broadnax, 37, died by lethal injection astatine the authorities penitentiary successful Huntsville astatine 6:47 p.m. Thursday, The Associated Press reported. 

His execution came conscionable hours aft the U.S. Supreme Court denied a last-minute petition by Broadnax’s attorneys to spare his life. 

"I prayed to God for your forgiveness," Broadnax told the victims’ families portion making his last statement. "Despite what you deliberation astir me, I anticipation to God that supplication was answered. But nary substance what you deliberation astir me, Texas got it wrong. I’m innocent, the facts of my lawsuit should talk for itself. Period."

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Texas decease enactment inmate James Broadnax is shown successful an undated photograph provided by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice connected April 29, 2026. (Texas Department of Criminal Justice/AP)

Broadnax was convicted and aboriginal condemned for the 2008 shooting deaths of Stephen Swan and Matthew Butler extracurricular Butler’s signaling workplace successful suburban Dallas. 

Prosecutors accidental Broadnax and his cousin, Demarius Cummings, killed the 2 men during an equipped robbery successful the studio’s parking lot.

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The main entranceway of the gathering lodging the execution enclosure astatine the Huntsville Unit of the Texas State Penitentiary is seen successful Huntsville, Texas, connected Oct. 17, 2024. (Michael Wyke/AP)

Cummings was subsequently sentenced to beingness without parole.

Prosecutors revealed Broadnax had antecedently confessed to the double-killing, telling reporters successful interviews from his jailhouse compartment that helium felt nary remorse and, "I pulled the trigger."

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The Huntsville Unit situation is seen successful Huntsville, Texas, connected Sept. 14, 2024. (Francois Picard/AFP)

Throughout his trial, officials pointed to rap lyrics penned by Broadnax, successful which helium referenced robbing, sidesplitting and selling drugs – resulting successful an entreaty from Broadnax’s defence claiming his law rights had been disregarded and prompting enactment from rappers Travis Scott and Killer Mike. 

However, Broadnax’s attorneys hinged their last bid to prevention his beingness connected Cummings precocious admitting to being the 1 who pulled the trigger, portion adding that their client’s rights had been violated during his proceedings aft respective imaginable jurors were eliminated connected the ground of race.

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"I’m truly gonna archer it similar it’s expected to beryllium told, that it was me, that I was the killer. I changeable Matthew Bullard, Steve Swan," Cummings said successful a video released from situation created successful an effort to halt Broadnax’s execution.

The defence besides claimed prosecutors successful Broadnax’s proceedings zeroed successful connected each 7 Black jurors successful the case, "utilizing a spreadsheet during assemblage enactment that bolded lone the names of each Black juror," according to tribunal documents. One Black juror was yet reinstated.

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Theresa Butler, Matthew Butler’s mother, remained defiant successful asking the execution of her son’s slayer spell done arsenic planned. 

"This alleged confession from Cummings is conscionable a stall maneuver by Broadnax’s hopeless defence team. It's each a lie," Theresa Butler wrote successful a societal media post.

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 Broadnax was the 10th idiosyncratic to beryllium executed this twelvemonth successful the state and the 3rd successful the authorities of Texas. 

The Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office and Broadnax’s lawyer did not instantly respond to Fox News Digital’s petition for comment.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.