Dec 29, 1988, while on parole for a robbery conviction, Gayland Bradford entered a Dallas grocery store with accomplice Vandron Seymore. Bradford pulled a pistol from his waistband and shot security guard Brian Williams 4 times in the back. He later died of his wounds at a Dallas hospital.

Next, he turned the gun toward a clerk, who ran behind some displays. He then fired three more times at Williams. Bradford was attempting to open the cash register when he yelled at Seymore to take Williams' money. Seymore and Bradford stole a .357 revolver, a cap, and Williams' wallet before leaving the store.

Bradford's girlfriend testified that just before the killing, Bradford showed her a gun and said he was leaving their apartment to "make some money". When Bradford was arrested, police found three guns, crack cocaine, and marijuana in his home. He gave police a voluntary statement, and at trial testified that he went to the store with the intent of committing a robbery. He said that his gun went off unintentionally, however, and then he kept shooting at Williams in self-defense, because Williams was reaching for a gun.

The prosecution's main evidence was the recording of the shooting and robbery made by the store's security camera, which showed Bradford shooting Williams in the back without warning. At the time of the murder, Bradford was on parole for a robbery conviction two years earlier.

Final/Special Meal:
Chicken with jalapenos, peanut butter cake, butter rolls, two steak and cheese omelets, hash browns and ketchup, and a root beer soda.

Last Words:
Bradford looked towards friend Noel Martin and spoke to his only personal witness. There was no family present on Bradford’s behalf.“[Noel], I love you, man. You have been there for me, through thick and thin. I am at peace. We have no more worries, just as I have no more worries for the victim’s family. May you be at peace, also."

Gayland Bradford, 42, was the fourth person executed in Texas this year and second put to death using a new drug, pentobarbital, which is often used to euthanize animals. Bradford died at 6:25 p.m. local time, nine minutes after the drug was administered.

Information provided by:WichitaFalls (#47544561)