Adam Kelly Ward
Adam Kelly Ward | |
---|---|
Born | Execution by lethal injection | August 11, 1982
Conviction(s) | Capital murder |
Criminal penalty | Death (June 2007) |
Details | |
Victims | Michael Walker, 44 |
Date | June 13, 2005 |
Weapon | .45 caliber pistol |
Adam Kelly Ward (August 11, 1982[1] – March 22, 2016[2]) was an American convicted murderer executed by the U.S. state of Texas by lethal injection.
Early life
Ward was born in the
Murder
On June 13, 2005, while washing his car, Adam Ward encountered Michael Walker, a 44-year-old code enforcement officer, taking photographs of Ward's home in Commerce, Texas. Ward's home had been frequently cited by the City of Commerce for numerous code violations over the previous five years. Walker taking pictures agitated Ward, according to testimony. Walker then had a brief encounter with Ward, who advised him to leave the area.[1][3] Walker went to his truck, moved it to the opposite side of the street and called the police, while Ward ran to his bedroom and returned outside with a handgun, and started to fire at Walker. He chased Walker while he retreated behind his truck according to witnesses, and tried to hide behind and under it. When Walker tried to run down the street, Ward shot him again, making for a total of nine shots fired at Walker.[4] Walker's father, Dick Walker, was serving with the Commerce Emergency Corps and arrived on the scene shortly before his son died.[5]
Victim
The victim was 44-year-old Michael "Pee Wee" Walker. Walker had been a construction worker before being hired by the City of Commerce as a code enforcement officer. Walker lived with his father, Dick Walker, a funeral director who owned and operated a funeral home in Commerce. Walker also had two children, a son Donavon and a daughter Marissa who lived with him and his father in Commerce.
Trial
Ward was charged with murder in obstruction/retaliation, making him eligible for the death penalty.
Execution
Ward,
Aftermath and Reaction
Numerous anti-death penalty advocates condemned the execution, citing it as unconstitutional due to claims that Ward was mentally ill. Commerce police Chief Kerry Crews, who attended the execution, said it was a tragedy for both families, and that hopefully the execution could "provide closure so that they can move on." Dick Walker later filed a civil suit against the City of Commerce and The Ward Family for wrongful death, and settled out of court. The City of Commerce then sued Ralph Ward in an attempt to gain permission to demolish the home, as it had already been declared condemned. In the fall of 2019, The City of Commerce had the Ward house demolished and the property lot cleared.
See also
References
- ^ a b c "Ward, Adam Kelly". Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Retrieved March 31, 2016.
- ^ a b "Last Words Adam Kelly Ward". Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Retrieved March 31, 2016.
- ^ Slayton, Ashley M.; Jenaé, Julia (November 4, 2015). "Execution date set for Texas death row inmate". KLTV. Retrieved March 31, 2016.
- ^ Austin Chronicle. Retrieved March 31, 2016.
- ^ a b c Kellar, Brad. "Adam Ward capital murder trial starts". Commerce Journal. Retrieved March 31, 2016.
- ^ Texas Tribune. Retrieved April 1, 2016.
- ^ Kellar, Brad (June 21, 2007). "Dad claims son no longer suffers from outbursts". Herald-Banner. Retrieved March 31, 2016.
- ^ Lowery, Wesley (March 23, 2016). "Mentally ill Texas man convicted of murder becomes ninth person executed in U.S. this year". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 1, 2016.