Texas executes murderer in failed beer theft

HOUSTON (Reuters) - Texas has executed a man convicted of murdering an Amarillo couple in 1994 during an attempt to steal beer from their grocery store.

Ryan Heath Dickson, 30, was executed by lethal injection on Thursday shortly after 6 p.m. (2300 GMT), becoming the 13th inmate put to death this year in Texas, which carries out more executions than any other U.S. state.

Dickson was convicted of shooting 61-year-old store owner Surace Carmelo with a sawed-off .22-caliber rifle. He then shot Carmelo's wife, Marie, 60, even though she put all the store's money on the counter, officials said.

No family members or friends were present, neither Dickson's nor the victims'. His execution was witnessed by the prison chaplain, three journalists and several prison officials.

After having tubes connected to veins in both arms, Dickson expressed love for his family and apologized to the victims and their families.

"I do apologize," he said. "I am sorry for what I did and I take responsibility for what I did."

Dickson's last meal request was fried chicken, fried eggs, french fries with white gravy, apple pie and ice cream, five biscuits, chili with jalapeno peppers and cheese, lemonade and five containers of milk.