First Execution by Nitrogen Gas Carried Out in Alabama

Convicted Murderer Kenneth Eugene Smith's Execution Could Set Precedent for Other States

Kenneth Eugene Smith, convicted of a 1988 murder-for-hire, became the first person to be executed by nitrogen gas in the U.S., in Alabama.
Smith's execution took place on Thursday, with witnesses describing him shaking and writhing on the gurney for at least two minutes before his breathing stopped.
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall characterized the execution as 'textbook', while critics called it cruel and experimental.
Other states, including Oklahoma and Mississippi, are considering adopting nitrogen gas as a method of execution.
Smith had previously been scheduled for lethal injection in 2022, but the procedure was called off when authorities couldn't connect an IV line.