Randall Hafdahl was executed by the State of Texas for the murder of Officer James Mitchell
According to court documents Officer James Mitchell watched Randall Hafdahl car swerve off of the road. The Officer would chase Randall and eventually they came to a locked gate when Hafdahl would turn around and fire at the Officer killing him
Randall Hafdahl would be arrested, convicted and sentenced to death
Randall Hafdahl would be executed by lethal injection on January 31 2002
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When Was Randall Hafdahl Executed
Randall Hafdahl was executed on January 31 2002
Randall Hafdahl Case
A former Dallas mechanic was executed Thursday for killing an Amarillo police officer who had stopped to help at a traffic accident 16 years ago.
Randall Hafdahl, 48, was pronounced dead at 6:48 p.m. after receiving a lethal injection for the murder of Sgt. James Mitchell Jr. on Nov. 11, 1985 in the Texas Panhandle city. The execution was delayed because prison officials had trouble finding a usable vein.
When asked if he had any final words, Hafdahl looked at his daughter, who was a witness, and told her he loved her. He then said he was ready.
“Let’s get going,” he said. “The road goes on forever, and the party never ends. Let’s rock and roll. Let’s go warden.”
In a written statement Hafdahl asked prison officials to release, he criticized the handling of his case but apologized to the Mitchell family.
“I truly am sorry for the tragedy that took place on Nov. 11, 85. That’s all I can give you. That’s all I will give you. Because today you’re making my family and loved ones a victim just as you have cried to the world you were in this tragedy.”
Mitchell’s wife and two daughters were witnesses along with Hafdahl’s daughter and some friends and relatives of the inmate. They viewed the execution from separate rooms.
On Nov. 11, 1985, Mitchell, 42, was driving home from work when he witnessed a one-car accident in which Hafdahl drove off the road and into the back yard of a residence. Mitchell, who was still in uniform, stopped and ran to the crash scene to help.
Hafdahl left the car, hid a 9mm pistol under a jacket, and attempted to flee through a gate but Mitchell drew his gun and yelled at him to stop, identifying himself as an officer. When Mitchell was about six feet away, Hafdahl turned and shot him four times, according to trial evidence.
Hafdahl testified that he tried to flee because he feared police wound find out he was a convicted felon and had not been reporting to his probation officer. He said he was on drugs and alcohol and acted in self-defense, thinking Mitchell was an angry motorist.
Hafdahl was the fourth convicted killer executed this month in Texas. Ten more executions are scheduled through May at the Huntsville prison.
https://www.upi.com/Top_News/2002/01/31/Texas-executes-man-who-killed-cop/35021012530797/
