Oklahoma to execute man convicted of double killing in 2006 drive-by shooting

Oklahoma is set to carry out its first execution of 2026 on Thursday with the scheduled lethal injection of a man convicted in a 2006 drive-by shooting that killed two young men following a dispute outside an Oklahoma City nightclub.

Kendrick Antonio Simpson, 45, is set to receive a three-drug lethal injection at 10 a.m. at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester, according to the Oklahoma Department of Corrections. The execution would mark the first in Oklahoma this year and the second in the United States in 2026.

Simpson was convicted of first-degree murder in the deaths of 19-year-old Anthony Jones and 20-year-old Glen Palmer. Prosecutors said the killings stemmed from an altercation at a club, after which Simpson and others drove by and opened fire on the victims.

During clemency proceedings late last year, Simpson apologized for the killings. He expressed remorse and described the crime as a tragic outcome of poor decisions amid difficult circumstances.

A native of New Orleans, Simpson had evacuated to Oklahoma as a refugee following Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Supporters and defense advocates highlighted his history of trauma, including surviving the hurricane and later becoming a victim of a separate drive-by shooting himself that left him with serious injuries, including wounds to his leg, chest, abdomen and skull.

The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board denied a recommendation for clemency earlier in January 2026, and Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond had previously urged the board to reject any leniency in the case, calling the murders brutal.

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt had the authority to grant a last-minute reprieve, though no such action had been reported as of Wednesday. Simpson's attorneys could also seek a stay from the U.S. Supreme Court.

The case drew attention from death penalty opponents, who pointed to Simpson's documented post-traumatic stress disorder and argued that mitigating factors — including his displacement from Katrina and prior victimization — should have weighed against a death sentence.

Oklahoma has carried out multiple executions in recent years using lethal injection, despite occasional challenges to its protocols and drug sources. The state resumed executions after a hiatus and has one of the more active death chambers in the nation.

If carried out as scheduled, Simpson's execution would close a chapter on a crime that occurred nearly two decades ago in Oklahoma City's nightlife scene, leaving families of the victims seeking final justice. 

Relatives of Jones and Palmer have previously expressed that the long wait for resolution has been difficult.

Witnesses to the execution are expected to include members of the victims' families, media representatives and prison staff. Oklahoma typically limits public details about the procedure until after it is complete.

Source: DPN, Agencies, Staff, AI, February 12, 2026

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