HUNTSVILLE — As Licho Escamilla prepared to die, he looked over to the slain officer's daughter, saying, "Shelby, God bless your heart."
Then the convicted cop killer thanked his friends and family and spoke out against the final judgment he was about to receive, saying, "The state of Texas has refused to listen to God's children. They will have to take that up with God. Let everyone know that it's not over."
He ended his statement, saying, "Warden, that's it."'
Prison officials then administered a lethal dose of pentobarbital. Escamilla, 33, was put to death Wednesday for the 2001 execution-style killing of Officer Kevin James. He was pronounced dead at 6:31 p.m., 18 minutes after a lethal dose was given to him.
"Today, justice was served for Christopher Kevin James, known as K.J., when his murderer was finally executed," the James family said in a statement read by Senior Cpl. Kevin Janse, a close friend of the fallen officer who witnessed the execution. "We will grieve for him forever and always wonder why such an extraordinary man and passionate public servant was taken so soon."
James' widow, Lori, was there, but did not witness the execution.
Escamilla was 19 when his path crossed with James' in the parking lot of a northwest Dallas nightclub in November 2001. He was already wanted for murder.
James was working off-duty security at the club, along with other officers, when a fight broke out. Escamilla retrieved a gun and began firing wildly. Two rounds hit James, disabling his gun. James fell to his knees. Escamilla then walked over and calmly fired three rounds into the back of James' head, killing him.
Two Dallas police officers captured Escamilla following a shootout.
"To execute that police officer the way he did -- standing over him and shooting him and laughing about it -- and having murdered another individual just several days before that tells you everything you need to know about him," said Howard Blackmon, who was one of the prosecutors at Escamilla's 2002 trial.
Blackmon, now in private practice, said Escamilla was emotionless during much of the trial. But jail officials kept finding items on him, such as nails and screws. Blackmon said officials had no idea how he was getting the potential weapons. Jail officials say they had to put him in a shock belt for much of the trial.
Bailiffs ended up having to use it when he threw a pitcher of water at the jury after learning he'd be going to Death Row. One of the prosecutors described Escamilla during the trial as the "personification of evil."
Blackmon spoke with News 8 the day before the execution.
"He had a fair trial," he said. "He had his lengthy appeals and now it's time to pay the price."
In the hours before the death sentence was carried out, prison officials described Escamilla as subdued and quiet. He was allowed to visit with family and friends that morning.
Outside, Dallas police officers gathered to stand vigil to await Escamilla's execution. Death penalty protesters gathered on the other side.
The fallen officer's daughter, brother-in-law and son-in-law witnessed the execution, as did Janse and Dallas Police Senior Cpl. Scott Sayers.
Inside the witness room, James' daughter, who was eight when he died, sat in a chair and sobbed uncontrollably. Sayers and other family members comforted her as she watched her father's killer die.
On the other side, Escamilla's sister could be heard screaming, "Please don't go, Licho. Please don't go, Licho. Please God no. Please don't take him. Licho, We love you." When she didn't stop screaming, prison officials escorted her out.
As Escamilla took his final breaths, the officer's daughter had these words to say:
"I'm just glad it's over."
