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Florida executes 77-year-old man convicted of 1986 deputy killing

Lethal injection was carried out following failed final appeals citing military service and trauma

Updated Oct 21, 2026 · 06:23 UTC4 reports

The short version

Florida executed 77-year-old William Reaves by lethal injection at Florida State Prison.[CBS News · Fox News]
Reaves was sentenced to death for the fatal September 1986 shooting of Deputy Richard Raczkowski.[CBS News · The Guardian · Fox News]
The U.S. Supreme Court denied his final request for a stay without comment prior to the execution.[The Guardian · Fox News]
Advocates and over 100 military veterans had petitioned the governor to halt the execution citing Reaves' PTSD disability.[CBS News · The Guardian · Fox News]

William Reaves was executed by lethal injection at Florida State Prison on Tuesday.[CBS News · The Guardian · Fox News]
The conviction stemmed from the September 1986 fatal shooting of Indian River County Deputy Richard Raczkowski, whom investigators said was shot four times while attempting to flee.[CBS News · The Guardian · Fox News]
The U.S. Supreme Court rejected a stay of execution and a petition to review the case without comment.[The Guardian · Fox News]
Defense attorneys argued jurors were unaware that the Department of Veterans Affairs had designated Reaves as 100% disabled due to Vietnam War-related PTSD.[CBS News · The Guardian · Fox News]
Over 100 veterans submitted a letter to Governor Ron DeSantis requesting that the execution be stopped.[CBS News · The Guardian · Fox News]

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.