Florida carried out its 18th execution of the year on Tuesday, continuing a pattern of aggressive use of the death penalty under Governor Ron DeSantis in his final term. William Reaves, 77, was pronounced dead at 6:12 p.m. following the administration of a three-drug lethal injection at Florida State Prison near Starke.

Reaves was convicted of first-degree murder for the September 1986 fatal shooting of Indian River County sheriff’s deputy Richard Raczkoski. With his execution, Reaves became the eighth Florida inmate aged 70 or older to be put to death this year, underscoring the increasing age of death row prisoners nationwide. Florida continues to lead the country in the total number of executions conducted annually.

Governor DeSantis has repeatedly emphasized the importance of delivering justice to victims’ families who have often endured decades-long waits for death sentences to be carried out. Following the execution, Marc Raczkoski, brother of the slain deputy, told reporters that he felt justice had finally been served.

However, Indian River County Sheriff Eric Flowers offered a different perspective during a post-execution briefing, describing the outcome as providing closure rather than justice. The contrasting views highlight the complex emotions surrounding the application of capital punishment, especially in cases with prolonged timelines.

The execution of Reaves marks the latest development in Florida’s renewed momentum on capital punishment, reflecting broader debates on the ethics and efficacy of the death penalty amid an aging inmate population.