Texas man who kills 3 in 2005 burglary executed

Texas authorities executed Lee James Norman, aged 40, by lethal injection on September 16 for the 2005 murders of three people in Edna.

According to The Associated Press, Norman was put to death at the state penitentiary in Huntsville, becoming the fifth person executed in Texas this year.

Norman was convicted of killing 24-year-old Samuel Roberts, 18-year-old Tiffany Peacock and 38-year-old Celso Lopez during a shooting at a home in Edna.

Court records said Norman and his accomplice, Kear Shan Ramey, entered the house allegedly intending to steal cocaine.

The three victims were shot dead during the incident.

Norman was arrested about five months later while attempting to enter the United States from Mexico.

He pleaded guilty to the murders, after which a jury sentenced him to death.

Before the execution, Norman’s lawyers asked the US Supreme Court to halt the punishment, arguing that prosecutors had presented false or contradictory evidence and arguments.

The court rejected the request.

Jail officials said Norman declined to make a final statement, shaking his head when asked.

He was administered the lethal injection and pronounced dead at 6:44pm.

Ramey, who was also sentenced to death for his role in the killings, is scheduled to be executed on September 23, 2026.