Florida executes man, 77, who shot a sheriff's deputy 40 years ago, but the county sheriff says 'that's not justice'

Indian River County Sheriff Eric Flowers said 'Would we all be so lucky to be 77 years old and to die so peacefully' after William Reaves was put to death on Tuesday. Reaves was convicted of murdering deputy Richard Raczkoski in September 1986. He was pronounced dead at 6.12pm at Florida State Prison near Starke. Asked for any last words, he replied: 'No, I do not.'

The deputy's brother, Marc Raczkoski, said his brother had finally got justice.

Reaves, a Vietnam veteran, was the eighth Florida prisoner over 70 executed this year.

It was Florida's 18th execution this year under Ron DeSantis, one short of the 2025 record.