Oklahoma plans Feb. 12 execution of Kendrick Simpson after clemency denial and last-minute court filings
Execution scheduled after split clemency vote
Oklahoma is set to execute death-row inmate Kendrick Antonio Simpson by lethal injection on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026, at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester unless a reprieve is issued by Gov. Kevin Stitt or a court grants a stay. Simpson, 45, was sentenced to death for the 2006 drive-by killings of Glen Palmer and Anthony Jones in Oklahoma City.
The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board voted 3-2 on Jan. 14, 2026, against recommending clemency. Under Oklahoma’s process, the governor can grant clemency only after a favorable recommendation from the board; a denial leaves the execution date in place absent judicial intervention or an executive reprieve.
What the case record shows about the 2006 killings
Simpson’s conviction stems from a shooting that occurred after a confrontation at a nightclub in Oklahoma City. Court records describe Simpson firing multiple rounds from an AK-style rifle into a car carrying three men. Palmer and Jones were killed, while a third man survived.
Prosecutors have characterized the attack as deliberate and have argued against reducing Simpson’s sentence. In the months leading to the execution date, state filings opposing clemency emphasized the nature of the crime and referenced allegations of threats toward witnesses after the shootings.
Defense focus: reprieve, stay, and remaining legal avenues
With clemency denied, the immediate question is whether any court order will halt the execution. On Feb. 9, 2026, Simpson’s advocates submitted an application for a stay of execution to the U.S. Supreme Court, directed to Justice Neil Gorsuch, who handles emergency matters arising from the federal circuit that includes Oklahoma.
A stay would temporarily pause the execution while the court considers the issues presented. A reprieve by the governor would also delay the execution, typically for a defined period, without changing the underlying sentence.
Key dates in the final week
Jan. 14, 2026: Clemency denied by a 3-2 vote of the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board.
Feb. 9, 2026: Application for a stay filed at the U.S. Supreme Court, submitted to Justice Neil Gorsuch.
Feb. 12, 2026: Execution scheduled at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester.
Oklahoma law routes clemency requests through the Pardon and Parole Board; without a recommendation, the governor’s clemency power is constrained, leaving courts and limited executive tools as the remaining avenues to delay an execution.
What happens next
Absent a court-ordered stay or an executive reprieve, Simpson is expected to be put to death by lethal injection. If the Supreme Court or another court intervenes, the execution would be postponed pending further proceedings. If no intervention occurs, the state will proceed under its execution protocol at the McAlester facility.