Alabama executed former delivery driver Alan Eugene Miller, who was convicted in 2000 for a workplace shooting spree, using nitrogen gas. This method, known as nitrogen hypoxia, involves breathing only nitrogen through a mask. Miller’s execution was the second time Alabama attempted to execute him, following a failed lethal injection attempt. Witnesses reported that Miller moved slightly, trembled, and gasped for several minutes before being declared dead.
This execution follows a recent spike in the number of executions nationwide. Miller was declared dead at 6:38 p.m. after a prolonged period of gasping and shaking. Alabama Governor Kay Ivey stated that this execution served justice for the victims of Miller’s crimes, emphasizing that his acts were driven by “pure evil.”
Alabama became the first state to use nitrogen in executions earlier this year. Attorney General Steve Marshall defended the method as “swift, painless, and humane.” Miller initially challenged the use of nitrogen due to concerns about potential pain and prolonged death but ultimately agreed to the method after a failed execution attempt in 2022.
Human rights groups have criticized the use of nitrogen gas for executions, raising concerns about the potential for physical side effects and prolonged suffering. The method has been likened to “human experimentation” by advocates. Despite these concerns, Alabama executed Miller using nitrogen gas, marking only the second time this method has been used in the United States.
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