Alabama executes Carey Dale Grayson using nitrogen gas in controversial method

Carey Dale Grayson was executed in Alabama using nitrogen gas, a method introduced earlier this year. He was pronounced dead at 6:33 PM after gasping for breath for several minutes. Grayson had been convicted of murdering a hitchhiker in 1994. During the execution, Grayson made an expletive outburst and struggled against his restraints. He was reported to have taken more than a dozen gasping breaths before the curtains were closed. His final meal included a seafood platter and soft tacos. Grayson's execution followed a denial from the U.S. Supreme Court for a stay. His lawyers raised concerns about the nitrogen method, claiming it could lead to conscious suffocation.