Texas Executes James Broadnax Despite Innocence Claims

James Garfield Broadnax, 37, was executed by lethal injection on Thursday evening at the Huntsville State Penitentiary in Texas. He was convicted for the 2008 shooting deaths of Stephen Swan and Matthew Butler outside a Garland recording studio. According to multiple reports, Broadnax maintained his innocence until his final moments.

Broadnax's cousin, Demarius Cummings, who is serving life without parole, recently confessed to being the shooter and urged Broadnax to take the blame for the crime. Broadnax's legal team argued that this confession was supported by DNA evidence linking Cummings to the murder weapon and one victim's pocket.

The execution proceeded despite last-minute appeals, including a request to the U.S. Supreme Court for a stay of execution, which was denied at 6:47 p.m. on Thursday. Broadnax's attorneys also alleged racial discrimination during jury selection, claiming prosecutors struck all seven Black prospective jurors using a spreadsheet that highlighted only Black names. Prosecutors denied any racial motive.

Broadnax's case drew attention from several prominent rappers, including Travis Scott, T.I., and Killer Mike, who filed briefs supporting his appeal. They argued that prosecutors misused Broadnax's rap lyrics to portray him as violent during the trial. The Texas Attorney General's Office dismissed Cummings' confession as 'questionable new evidence.'

In his final statement, Broadnax told the victims’ families, "I prayed to God for your forgiveness. Despite what you think about me, I hope to God that prayer was answered. But no matter what you think about me, Texas got it wrong. I’m innocent, the facts of my case should speak for itself." Theresa Butler, Matthew Butler’s mother, remained defiant in asking that the execution of her son’s killer go through as planned.