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The big news in Texas today is that convicted killer Jesse Joe Hernandez was executed last night for the 2001 beating death of 10-month-old baby. According to the AP reporter, “Jesse Joe Hernandez smiled and laughed at times before receiving a lethal injection for the slaying of Karlos Borja 11 years ago.” But it was what came during his final words that has the Internet buzzing.

Hernandez took the chance to support his team one more time. 

“God bless everybody. Continue to walk with God,” the 47-year-old Hernandez said. Moments later, he shouted “Go Cowboys!” in honor of his favorite football team.

As the drugs took effect, the condemned man repeated his appreciation for those he knew who had gathered to witness the execution. “Love y’all, man,” Hernandez said. “… Thank you. I can feel it, taste it. It’s not bad.”

He took about 10 deep breaths, which grew progressively weaker until he was no longer moving. Ten minutes later, at 6:18 p.m. CDT, he was pronounced dead.

So, was that a death row first? Nope, it’s happened before. Go back to 2007 during an Arizona execution of convicted murderer Robert Charles Comer. According to the AP, Comer “fought for seven years to drop his appeals and be allowed to die.”

It took 20 years for him to get his death wish.

Comer was mostly quiet as he lay strapped to a gurney before his execution. He looked around at the more than 20 witnesses before focusing on the area where the three people he asked to be there were waiting. Comer mouthed, “Hi, how are you?”

Warden Carson McWilliams then asked Comer if he had any last words. The California native replied: “Yes. Go, Raiders.”

The Arizona Republic would report that the Raiders statement was meant for Comer’s attorney, a football fan. Last night’s execution wasn’t the first time a death row inmate’s final words referenced the Cowboys. William Prince Davis made special mention of his team before dying in 1999.

Filed under: Football