2:44 PM
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt commuted the death sentence of Julius Jones, whose case drew the attention of many sports figures.
Stitt commuted Jones' sentence on Thursday, the day of his scheduled execution, to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
Jones' case was featured in a three-part documentary called "The Last Defense" that aired on ABC in the fall of 2018). A number of sports figures with Oklahoma ties have urged Stitt to spare Jones' life.
The former Oklahoma quarterback spoke out in support of Jones on Wednesday, saying that he had been trying to get the facts stated and the truth to be told for a while. It was tried and tried. It's a shame that it's gotten this far. We are not far away. It is difficult. Hopefully God will intervene and handle it correctly.
Steve Kerr, the Golden State Warriors coach, asked his followers to share a video he posted on Wednesday. Please join the fight to save a man's life. Do it for Julius. Do it for his family. Do it for our country. This cannot happen in a civilized nation. Do everything you can.
Jones was sentenced to death for the 1999 shooting death of a businessman during a carjacking. Jones has been on death row for more than two decades, and has claimed he was framed by a high school friend and former co-conspirator.
The state's Pardon and Parole Board recommended in a 3-1 vote that Stitt commute Jones' sentence to life in prison, with several members of the panel agreeing they had doubts about the evidence that led to Jones' conviction. The evidence against Jones is overwhelming, according to the Oklahoma County District Attorney and the state's former attorney general.
According to trial transcripts, witnesses identified Jones as the shooter and placed him with the stolen vehicle. The murder weapon was wrapped in a bandanna and had Jones' DNA on it. Jones claimed in his commutation filing that the gun and bandanna were planted by the actual killer, who was inside his house after the killing.
Megan Tobey and two young daughters were in the SUV when the carjacking happened. Tobey testified that she remembers seeing Jones shoot her brother.
He is the same person that he was 22 years ago. He's still in trouble. He's still in a gang. He's still lying. He feels no shame, guilt or remorse for his actions. We need Julius Jones to be held responsible.
Information from The Associated Press was used.
