James Garrett Freeman
| James Garrett Freeman | |
|---|---|
| Born |
November 12, 1980 Lissie, Texas |
| Died |
January 27, 2016 (aged 35) Huntsville, Texas |
| Criminal charge | Murder |
| Criminal penalty | Death penalty |
| Killings | |
| Victims | Justin Hurst |
James Garrett Freeman (November 12, 1980[1] – January 27, 2016[2]) was an American man who was convicted, sentenced to death, and executed for murder in Texas.
Freeman originated from Lissie, an unincorporated area in Wharton County, Texas. He was a welder, but was unemployed at the time he committed murder. He had no record of violence. On March 17, 2007 Freeman engaged in a high-speed chase with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) officers. At the Lissie Cemetery, where the chase ended, he fired at TPWD staff with an AK-47 and a Glock pistol. Justin Hurst, a 34-year old TPWD game warden, was struck twice and killed.[3] Hurst had turned 34 that day. Freeman was shot four times and survived.[4]
Freeman, Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ)#999539,[1] was convicted and sentenced to death. While on death row he was in Polunsky Unit.[5] He was executed at Huntsville Unit on January 27, 2016, nine years after the murder.[6]
The Justin Hurst Wildlife Management Area (WMA) of the TPWD, located in Brazoria County, Texas,[7] was renamed after the victim in 2007. It was formerly the Peach Point WMA.[8]
See also
- Capital punishment in Texas
- List of offenders executed in the United States in 2016
- Lists of people executed in Texas
References
- 1 2 "Freeman, James." Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Retrieved on February 4, 2016.
- ↑ "Last Statement Freeman, James." Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Retrieved on February 4, 2016.
- ↑ "Wharton jury sentences game warden's killer to death." Houston Chronicle. Friday, November 7, 2008
- ↑ Edwards, Valerie. "No last minute reprieve for Texas inmate set to be executed today for shooting dead a game warden while illegally hunting." The Daily Mail. January 27, 2016. Retrieved on February 4, 2016.
- ↑ Barned-Smith, St. John. "Wharton County man executed in killing of game warden." Houston Chronicle. Thursday January 28, 2016. Retrieved on February 4, 2016.
- ↑ McLaughlin, Kelly and Valerie Edwards. "Death row inmate becomes second killer in as many weeks to be executed in Texas - nine years after he shot dead a game warden while poaching." Daily Mail. January 27, 2016. Updated January 28, 2016. Retrieved on February 4, 2016.
- ↑ "Justin Hurst (WMA)." Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Retrieved on March 31, 2016.
- ↑ "TPWD Dedicates Justin Hurst WMA in Honor of Fallen Warden." Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. October 15, 2007. Retrieved on March 31, 2016.