Texas executes man for 2004 slaying of store owner
HUNTSVILLE, Texas — A Texas prisoner was executed Tuesday evening for the fatal shooting of a San Antonio convenience store owner after courts turned down appeals that the state parole board improperly rejected the inmate’s clemency request because he’s black.
Christopher Young, 34, never denied the slaying, which was recorded on a store surveillance camera, but insisted he was drunk and didn’t intend to kill 53-year-old Hasmukh “Hash” Patel during an attempted robbery after drinking nearly two dozen beers and then doing cocaine that Sunday morning, Nov. 21, 2004.
Young and Patel knew each other, and Patel’s family members had been vocal about not wanting Young put to death.
In his final statement from the death chamber, Young said he loved his victim’s family “like they love me.”