Montgomery, Ala. – Governor Kay Ivey announced that Jeffery Lee will be executed by lethal injection on Thursday, September 17, at Holman Prison in Atmore. The execution window runs from 12:00 a.m. Thursday until 6:00 a.m. Friday.

Background of the case

Lee was convicted by a jury of two counts of capital murder for the December 12, 1998 killings of Jimmy Ellis and Elaine Thompson during a robbery of Jimmy’s Pawnshop in the Dallas County town of Orrville. Prosecutors said Lee entered the shop with a sawed‑off shotgun, firing at Ellis, the store owner, and Thompson, an employee.

The jury recommended a life‑imprisonment sentence, voting 7‑5 in favor of that outcome. However, the presiding judge overrode the recommendation and imposed the death penalty. At the time, Alabama still permitted judicial overrides in capital cases. The state later abolished the practice in 2017, but the change was not applied retroactively to Lee’s case.

Additional sentencing

In addition to the death sentence, Lee received a life‑in‑prison term for the attempted murder of Helen King, another Dallas County resident, during the same criminal episode.

Execution method controversy

Lee was originally slated for execution in June using nitrogen hypoxia, a method Alabama began employing in 2024. The U.S. Supreme Court intervened, blocking the nitrogen protocol after a federal judge ruled it constituted cruel and unusual punishment under the Constitution. The state appealed the decision but was unsuccessful.

The Supreme Court’s ruling may shape the future of nitrogen hypoxia as an execution method nationwide, as courts continue to evaluate its constitutionality.

Governor Ivey’s response

Governor Ivey affirmed the execution schedule, stating that the administration respects the courts’ decisions and will carry out the sentence in accordance with Alabama law. She emphasized the importance of upholding the rule of law while ensuring that any execution method complies with constitutional standards.

Public reaction

Local officials and community members have expressed a range of views. Some families of the victims have welcomed the scheduled execution as a measure of justice, while civil‑rights groups have reiterated concerns about the death‑penalty system and the methods used.

The execution will take place at Holman Prison, Alabama’s primary facility for carrying out capital sentences.

Original reporting: Alabama News Network — read the source article.