Arizona carries out first execution in a Democrat-led state since 2017

An Arizona man has been executed following his first-degree murder conviction in 2008. 

Aaron Gunches, 53, passed away after receiving lethal injection at 10:33 a.m. MST on Wednesday at the Arizona State Prison Complex in Florence. Gunches had admitted to killing Ted Price, his girlfriend’s former husband, in the desert near the Phoenix suburb of Mesa in 2002.

“Everything unfolded as planned, with no disruptions whatsoever,” stated John Barcello, Deputy Director of the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry (ADCRR), during a press briefing following the execution.

Barcello mentioned that Gunches did not resist in any way. When asked if he had any final words, Gunches reportedly shook his head in negation.

In this undated photo provided by Karen Price is Ted Price, who was fatally shot in November 2002 near Mesa, Ariz.  (Karen Price via AP)

Gunches’ execution is the first in the state in more than two years. He is the first person executed in a state with a Democrat serving as governor since Virginia did so in 2017, when Terry McAuliffe was in charge, according to The Associated Press. 

Gunches’ execution had originally been scheduled for April 2023, but was called off after Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs ordered a review of the state’s death penalty procedures.

Ted Price is seen in this undated photo shared by his sister. He was the ex-husband of Aaron Gunches girlfriend when he was shot to death in 2002.  (Karen Price via AP)

Late last year, Hobbs fired the retired judge she had appointed to conduct the review, and the state’s corrections department announced changes in the team that lethally injects death row prisoners.

“The Department is confident in both the quality and quantity of its pentobarbital supply,” ADCRR said in a statement. 

“Appropriate testing occurred earlier this year, including a quantitative chemical analysis, which has been provided to Mr. Gunches, confirming a sufficient concentration of pentobarbital in the compounded solution. Additionally, sterility testing on the compounded pentobarbital was completed earlier this year, providing verification of the drug’s beyond use date. The results of this testing have also been provided to Mr. Gunches,” the statement said. 

Gunches is the second of four death row prisoners in the United States executed this week. Louisiana executed a man on Tuesday and two more executions are scheduled in Florida and Oklahoma on Thursday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.