Aaron Gunches, a 53-year-old man convicted of murder, was executed by lethal injection on Wednesday at the Arizona State Prison Complex in Florence. This marks Arizona's first execution in over two years, as state officials carried out the sentence for the 2002 murder of Ted Price, the ex-boyfriend of Gunches' then-girlfriend.

According to ABC News, Gunches pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in 2007, having shot Price four times in a desert area near Mesa, Arizona. After years of legal battles and various delays, including a scheduled execution in April 2023 that was halted by Governor Katie Hobbs for a review of death penalty procedures, Gunches was finally executed at approximately 10:33 a.m.

Witnesses reported that when asked if he had any final words, Gunches shook his head, indicating no, before the lethal injection of pentobarbital began. The execution process was described as smooth, with no visible signs of distress from Gunches, although some witnesses later claimed he showed signs of pulmonary edema, potentially indicating suffering during the procedure, as reported by HuffPost.

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes addressed the media following the execution, emphasizing the long-awaited justice for Price's family. "The family of Ted Price has been waiting for justice for more than two decades. They deserve closure," Mayes stated. Price's sister, Karen Price, who witnessed the execution, expressed the profound impact of their long ordeal: "Although we've taken the final step in the legal process, the pain of losing Ted remains profound and cannot be conveyed in mere words," she said, as reported by CBS News.

Gunches had actively sought his execution to provide closure for the victim's family, even withdrawing requests for clemency hearings. His execution also marked a resumption of capital punishment in Arizona amidst a national backdrop of increasing executions, with several other states also conducting death penalties following lengthy pauses.

This case is viewed as a significant event in the ongoing discussions regarding the death penalty in the United States, highlighting the complexities associated with its application and the emotional toll on the families involved. For a deeper insight into the procedural background of Gunches’ execution, refer to the full coverage by Newsweek.