DC sniper takes motives to the grave

SNIPER John Allen Muhammad refused to utter any last words as he was executed, taking to the grave answers about why and how he plotted the killings of 10 people that terrorised the Washington DC area for three weeks in October 2002.

The 48-year-old died by injection at 9.11pm on Tuesday as relatives of the victims watched from behind glass, separated from the rest of the 27 witnesses at Greensville Correctional Centre.

Muhammad was executed for killing Dean Harold Meyers, who was shot in the head at a Manassas gas station during the spree across Maryland, Virginia and Washington DC

He never testified or explained why he masterminded the shootings with the help of a teenage accomplice. That left questions unanswered about why he methodically hunted people going about their daily chores, why he chose his victims, including a child on his way to class, and how many other victims there were.

Muhammad stepped into Virginia’s death chamber and within seconds was lying on a gurney, tapping his left foot, his arms spread wide with a needle dug into each.

“Mr Muhammad, do you have any last words?” the warden asked. Muhammad, looking calm and stoic, said nothing.

Meyers’ brother, Bob Meyers, said watching the execution was sobering and “surreal”.

He said other witnesses expressed a range of feelings, including some who were overcome with emotion.

“I would have liked him at some point in the process to take responsibility, to show remorse,” Meyers said. “We didn't get any of that tonight.”

After the first of the three-drug lethal cocktail was administered, Muhammad blinked repeatedly and took about seven deep breaths. Within a minute, he was motionless.

Nelson Rivera, whose wife, Lori Ann Lewis-Rivera, was gunned down as she vacuumed her van at a Maryland gas station, said that when he watched Muhammad’s chest moving for the last time, he was glad.

“I feel better. I think I can breathe better,” he said. “I’m glad he’s gone because he’s not going to hurt anyone else.”