R.I.P. George Rivas

Roman Colosseum lit to protest an execution

Texas executed George Rivas on February 29, 2012, for the murder of Irving police officer Aubrey Hawkins during a robbery in 2000.  Rivas was the admitted ringleader for seven inmates who had escaped from a South Texas prison two weeks earlier.

As for the other six, one committed suicide before he could be arrested, one (Michael Rodriguez) has already been put to death, and the other four, each sentenced to death, are awaiting execution.

In a statement Rivas said, "I do apologize for everything that happened. Not because I'm here, but for closure in your hearts.  I really do believe you deserve that."

This is the sixth execution in the United States in 2012, the second in Texas.