Execution of 77-year-old in Florida. Vietnam War veteran executed despite appeals

William Reaves was executed at Florida State Prison for the murder of Deputy Sheriff Richard Raczkoski in 1986. This marks the 18th execution in Florida this year. Reaves initially called 911 for help, leading to a confrontation where he fatally shot Raczkoski. After being sentenced to death in 1987, his sentence was overturned but reinstated in 1992. His defense raised concerns about the execution protocol and his status as a Vietnam War veteran suffering from PTSD. Despite appeals from over 100 veterans to Governor Ron DeSantis, the Florida and U.S. Supreme Courts denied requests to halt the execution. Since the death penalty's reinstatement in the 1970s, over 1,600 executions have occurred in the U.S., with Florida accounting for a significant portion this year.