Lamont Reese

Case information

Lamont D. “Mont” Reese was a 28-year-old black male. He was scheduled to be executed after 6 p.m Tuesday, June 20, 2006, in Texas and was executed by lethal injection at the Texas State Penitentiary in Huntsville, Texas on June 20, 2006. Reese refused to walk into the death chamber and was carried into it by guards.

Timeline

• March 1, 1999 — Reese participated in a gang-related shooting outside a Fort Worth convenience store that resulted in the deaths of three men.
• May 25, 1999 — Reese was indicted for capital murder for the three killings.
• November 30, 2000 — A jury found Reese guilty of capital murder and he was sentenced to death.
• January 13, 2003 — Reese filed an application for writ of habeas corpus in the state trial court.
• April 30, 2003 — The Court of Criminal Appeals denied Reese’s application for writ of habeas corpus.
• June 16, 2003 — The U.S. Supreme Court denied Reese’s petition for writ of certiorari.
• June 26, 2003 — Reese filed a federal petition for writ of habeas corpus in a Fort Worth federal district court.
• August 14, 2003 — The federal district court dismissed Reese’s federal habeas petition and denied a certificate of appealibility.
• May 10, 2004 — The 5th U.S. Circuit Court denied Reese’s request to appeal the district court’s denial of his federal habeas petition.
• August 6, 2004 — Reese petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court for a writ of certiorari.
• October 18, 2004 — The Supreme Court denied Reese’s petition for writ of certiorari.
• May 17, 2006 — Reese filed a 1983 claim in the Southern District of Texas asking for a permanent injunction against his execution by lethal injection; the filing sought to block the punishment.
• May 26, 2006 — The Southern District Court dismissed Reese’s 1983 claim.
• May 25, 2006 — Reese filed a 1983 claim in a federal district court, asking for a permanent injunction against his execution by lethal injection.
• May 30, 2006 — The federal court dismissed Reese’s 1983 claim.
• June 2, 2006 — Reese filed a notice of appeal in the Fifth Circuit Court on his 1983 claim.
• June 20, 2006 — Reese was executed by lethal injection; he was pronounced dead at 6:27 p.m.

The offence

On March 1, 1999, after members of a gang made fun of his girlfriend outside a Fort Worth convenience store, Lamont Reese and three of his friends returned to the store to shoot the gang members. Reese shot and fatally wounded 17-year-old Riki Jackson, 25-year-old Alonzo Stewart, and 26-year-old Anthony Roney. Following the shooting, Reese and his friends returned to his girlfriend’s home where they bragged about their crime.

A man who had not participated in the shooting was told that Reese had shot three people with an assault rifle, and Reese did not dispute this statement. Reese also boasted that he got the men who were at the pay phone at the store.

Evidence at trial showed Reese’s 18-year-old girlfriend, Kareema Kimbrough, walked out of the convenience store about four miles southeast of downtown Fort Worth and drew the attention of several men who were drinking and playing dice outside the place. Reese became angry with the men flirting with Kimbrough. The couple left, met up with three others, including a pair of juveniles, and armed themselves with handguns and assault rifles. With Kimbrough driving and accompanied by her 2-year-old son, she dropped off the four near the store. The gunmen sprayed the scene with bullets. Kimbrough drove back around, retrieved her friends, and they sped off. Police were told by the victim of another shooting of people bragging about the convenience store gunfire, which led to the arrests of Reese, Kimbrough, and their companions.

Police testimony also included that after the shooting, Reese and his friends bragged about the killing. Prosecutors conceded during closing arguments that some of the men outside the convenience store were gang members but were unarmed that night, and they stated that the men were “not posing a threat to anyone.”

Victims and injury count

Reese’s conviction related to the deaths of three men:

• Riki Jackson, 17
• Alonzo Stewart, 25
• Anthony Roney, 26

Two other people were wounded in the attack: an unidentified 13-year-old and an unidentified 24-year-old.

Investigation and evidence

On the heels of his arrest, police impounded Reese’s vehicle and found five live cartridges in the glove compartment. The cartridges were identical to several live rounds of ammunition discovered at the crime scene.

Detectives found ammunition in Reese’s car that matched bullets found at the shooting scene.

After his arrest, Reese approached the jailer and asked if he was classified as a “celebrity inmate.” The jailer responded that Tarrant County had no such classification, but instead classified appropriate inmates as “high profile.” When the jailer assured Reese he would check on his classification, Reese announced: “Hell, I killed three people.”

Arrest and custody-related statements

Reese was arrested following the investigation into the shooting outside the Fort Worth convenience store. In jail after his arrest, he asked about his inmate classification and then stated, “Hell, I killed three people.”

People involved (co-defendants and other named individuals)

Kareema S. Kimbrough was Reese’s girlfriend; she was 18 years old at the time of the offence and later was identified as being 26. Kimbrough was convicted of capital murder and sentenced to life in prison; she served the sentence as of the writing in the material.

The other people named as accomplices/participants included:

• Brian Kenson Johnson, 19
• Steven Lamont Kindred, 16
• Jason Montel Leadley, 14
• Accomplices were also discussed as Kimbrough, Johnson, Kindred, and Leadley.

A separate segment described another person, Kareema Kimbrough, as accompanied also by her 2-year-old son.

Trial

Indictment

On May 25, 1999, Reese was indicted for capital murder for the three killings.

Verdict and sentence at trial

On November 30, 2000, a jury found Reese guilty of capital murder. The trial court sentenced Reese to death.

A separate statement in the material also indicated Reese was sentenced to death on January 18, 2001.

Appeals process in the state courts

• November 6, 2002 — The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed Reese’s conviction and sentence.
• Reese filed an application for writ of habeas corpus in the state trial court on January 13, 2003.
• The Court of Criminal Appeals denied the state habeas application on April 30, 2003.

Federal proceedings and constitutional challenges

• June 16, 2003 — The U.S.
• August 14, 2003 — The federal district court dismissed Reese’s federal habeas petition and denied a certificate of appealibility after the June 26, 2003 filing.
• May 9, 2005 — Reese requested permission to appeal from the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
• May 10, 2004 — The 5th Circuit Court denied Reese’s request to appeal the district court’s denial of his federal habeas petition.

1983 claims seeking injunction against execution

• May 17, 2006 — Reese filed a 1983 claim in the Southern District of Texas asking for a permanent injunction against his execution by lethal injection.
• May 30, 2006 — The federal court dismissed the 1983 claim.

The material also included discussion that Reese’s lawyers sought to block the punishment using a U.S. Supreme Court ruling concerning special appeals challenging lethal injection method after exhausting regular appeals, and that the Supreme Court rejected his appeals shortly before he was taken to the death chamber.

Final statement and execution details

On June 20, 2006, Reese was executed by lethal injection at the Texas State Penitentiary in Huntsville, Texas. He was pronounced dead at 6:27 p.m., eight minutes after the drugs began to flow.

Reese’s final statement included the following quotations:

• “I want everyone to know I did not walk to this because this is straight-up murder”
• “I am not going to play a part in my own murder. No one should have to do that.”
• “I do not know all of your names and I don't know how you feel about me”
• “And whether you believe it or not, I did not kill them.”
• “I said he was at peace and he wanted them to be at peace.” (statement appears in the material without a quoted phrase; the preceding and following quotes are preserved verbatim as provided)
• “You have to move past it. It is time to move on,”
• “I was glad that the execution was occurring and that his time on death row was not "10 or 20 years."”
• “This is some nasty.”
• “I was not at the crime,” (paraphrased in the material as his earlier claim; not presented as part of the execution quote block)

In the death chamber, after being strapped to the gurney, the material recorded Reese protested innocence with these quotations:

• “Whether you believe it or not, I did not kill them,”
• “The people that did this -- they know. I am ready, warden. Love you all.”
• No one should have to do that.”
• “I want everyone to know that I did not walk to this, because this is straight-up murder,”

Reese’s mother was Brenda Reese. The material recorded the following quotations and actions:

• Brenda Reese began pounding with her fists on the chamber window and began screaming repeatedly: “They killed my baby.”
• She kicked two holes in the death chamber wall and eventually was removed from the chamber.
• She sobbed loudly and walked from the prison and nearly collapsed as she reached the prison administration building across the street.

At the beginning of the execution, the material stated Reese’s last statement was cut short after the warden signaled for the lethal dose to be started; after the drugs began taking effect, Reese said, “This is some nasty,” then he gasped and lost consciousness.

Co-defendants’ dispositions (as stated)

The material stated that accomplices Kimbrough, Johnson, Kindred, and Leadley were convicted of capital murder and were sentenced to life, 50 years, 45 years, and 30 years, respectively.

A separate portion also stated that Kareema S. Kimbrough was convicted of capital murder and sentenced to life in prison.

Another portion stated that Jason Leadley, Brian Johnson, and Steven Kindred pleaded guilty to murder and received sentences ranging from 35 to 50 years in prison.

Prison and personal writings and communications

The material included personal statements and letters attributed to Lamont Reese in a death-row context.

A message included:

• “My name is Lamont Reese, but you can just call me "Mont." I'm 28 years old. I enjoy reading books and magazines. It's very lonely here without any family or friends to help me get through all this madness. I've only been here a short time, but in that time it's been very lonesome. So a few words from anyone who really cares would be welcomed. I like to try and write poems. Not very good yet, but I'm working on it. Well I hope to hear from someone soon. Best wishes, Mont”

The material also included the following letter text dated April 23, 2002:

“Dear Friends: I am coming to you now that I have broken my hunger strike to offer my sincere thanks to all who have called or written to my attorneys or other officials in my behalf. Just to bring you all up to date: my writ attorney has written to me and changed course. Before I began my hunger strike, and before you all began contacting my attorney he has sent me a letter advising me that the filing deadline was April 17, 2002 and that he would be filing my State application for writ of habeas corpus. Now he has filed for an extension of time to file my writ in order "to investigate additional issues." Thanks to you all he realized that he had to do a better job for me and at least he is doing something. In the month that I was on a hunger strike I lost over 30 pounds but am feeling well. I also used that time to file two motions in the trial court:one asking for a complete copy of my trial record (so that I can actually do some serious review and research) and the other motion to obtain a new attorney to file the additional claims on my State habeas writ. The trial court DENIED both of my motions. I still need your help to continue contacting my lawyer-letting him know of all the issues he should be raising in my case. Some of those were mentioned in my first letter and here are a few more of the most important issues: 1. An actual innocence claim: (must obtain affidavits from: "eye witnesses" and investigate every aspect of the offense). 2. An ineffective assistance of counsel at trial and on direct appeal claim: (requires extensive investigation of facts and careful examination of the trial record). 3. Obtain affidavits supporting my innocence from others who plead guilty to murders in plea agreements. 4. Obtain records of mental health problems and affidavits from family and friends regarding childhood to support ineffective assistance of counsel on punishment. 5. Have evidence tested or examined by independent experts in support of innocence claim. 6. Raise issues concerning jury selection if they are properly preserved (which I believe they are) 7. Investigate all of the issues and sub-issues within each of the above claims and leave no stone unturned. In closing I again want to express my deepest appreciation for all of our efforts and I thank you for caring from the bottom of my heart. If you have any questions or comments please write and I will do my best to answer. In Hope & Peace, Lamont Reese #999374 3872 FM 350 S. Livingston, TX 77351”

The material also included an additional message written by Lamont Reese:

“Greetings to you. My name is Lamont Reese and I'm 26 years old. It is very hard to reach out from such a place as Death Row, but I do feel that not everyone wishes death upon me. As I am forced to sit here in this sometimes cold and very unforgiving place, I found that it's nothing like having a good friend you can count on through the roughest of times, to let you know you're not alone. Nor are you forgotten. It really is the greatest effect at times. I hope that something inspires you to reach out to me, if not for anything, but to let me know you feel all life has a purpose. With that, I ask that to all that read my words, please find it in you to reach out back to me, or even another guy here on the row. Believe me, any form of kindness from you to make me or anyone at his last ends a part of your life, can make a world of difference to you and me. Just give it a chance. I ask that you please smile for me, because a smile to me is a form of hope that better days will soon come (smile!) Peace and Blessings, Mont.”

Other details

• Reese grew up in Louisiana where he said he spent much of his childhood in state custody after his mother was sent to prison.
• A statement in the material described Reese as acknowledging he dealt crack cocaine for years and describing himself as “no angel.”
• The material stated that he was the 12th inmate executed this year in the nation’s busiest capital punishment state, and that he was the 12th inmate executed in Texas this year and the 367th put to death since Texas resumed capital punishment in 1982.
• For his final meal, Reese requested fajitas, enchiladas, a bacon cheeseburger, pizza, chicken salad, tacos and fried chicken.
• A separate statement in the material recorded Reese saying from a visiting area: “I'm no angel,” and “I can tell you that. I was selling drugs. That's what I did. I sold crack for so many years.”
• A quotation recorded in the material attributed to Reese was: “I wish I had testified.”
• The material also included discussion that Kimbrough was described as serving a life prison term on a capital murder conviction. It also stated that the other three charged in the shooting agreed to plea bargains and served sentences ranging from 35 to 50 years.
• The material included additional context about scheduled executions in Texas, including serial killer Angel Maturino Resendiz and the fatal stabbing of Houston-area physician Claudia Benton in December 1998.