NYC native executed in Oklahoma for killing two hotel workers in 2001

Donald Grant fled to New York after his heinous crimes, hiding out at his sister's Bronx condominium.
AP

A New York Metropolis native was executed by deadly injection in Oklahoma on Thursday morning for killing two lodge employees throughout a 2001 theft.

Donald Grant, 46, who grew up in a metropolis public housing complicated throughout the Nineteen Eighties, was put to demise on the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester after an unsuccessful bid to halt the execution.

“Yo, God, I obtained this,” Grant mentioned in his final phrases in entrance of seven witnesses. “No medicine. I didn’t take nothing. Brooklyn for all times,” he mentioned.

He additionally chanted incoherently and continued talking after his microphone from contained in the execution chamber was turned off.

Grant, throughout a clemency listening to final November, admitted to murdering Brenda McElyea and Felicia Suzette Smith on the La Quita Inn in Del Metropolis. He mentioned he dedicated the slayings to eradicate witnesses to the theft.

The ladies had been discovered shot and stabbed.

Brenda McElyea was a sufferer of Donald Grant. Her household felt reduction after Grant’s execution.

Household Handout

Following the murders, Grant fled to the Large Apple and was arrested at his sister’s Bronx condominium.

Shirl Pilcher, the sister of McElyea, witnessed Grant’s execution and mentioned her household lastly felt justice had been served.

“Though Donald Grant’s execution doesn't deliver Brenda again, it permits us all to lastly transfer ahead figuring out justice was served,” Pilcher mentioned, in accordance with the Related Press.

Grant was the primary individual executed within the US in 2022 — and the third in Oklahoma because the state resumed deadly injections in October.

Felicia Suzette Smith was one of many victims Grant murdered.

Household Handout

He sought a delay within the execution, arguing to a federal decide that he needs to be restored as a plaintiff in a lawsuit difficult the constitutionality of Oklahoma’s deadly injection technique of execution.

The decide, an appeals panel and the US Supreme Court docket denied Grant’s request.

Grant’s legal professionals argued he was an eligible candidate for mercy — saying he was mentally unwell and suffered mind injury.

The attorneys famous Grant’s upbringing in a New York Metropolis housing undertaking throughout the crack epidemic. They mentioned he was routinely crushed and his family suffered from further psychological sickness.

With Submit wires