Execution of Nathaniel Woods

Nathaniel Woods
Picture of Woods from Alabama Department of Corrections
Born
Nathaniel Ali Woods[3]

(1976-10-24)October 24, 1976[4]
United States
DiedMarch 5, 2020(2020-03-05) (aged 43)
Holman Correctional Facility, Atmore, Alabama, U.S.
Cause of deathExecution by lethal injection
Known forControversial conviction and execution
Children3[5]
Conviction(s)Capital murder (3 counts),[a] attempted murder[1][2]
Criminal penaltyDeath

The execution of Nathaniel Woods occurred on March 5, 2020, at Holman Correctional Facility in Alabama. The execution was controversial due to beliefs of his innocence, skepticism about his culpability, and the fairness of his trial.[6] Woods had surrendered inside a crack house during a police raid that attempted to serve a months-old arrest warrant on Woods.[7][8] Another man came downstairs and opened fire, killing three officers. Woods ran from the scene after the gunfire erupted.[9][5]

Despite never pulling a trigger, Woods was accused of being an accomplice and was convicted of capital murder.[10] The same jury voted 10–2 in favor of capital punishment.[10]


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  1. ^ "UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT, NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ALABAMA, SOUTHERN DIVISION" (PDF).
  2. ^ "WOODS v. STATE".
  3. ^ Pamela Woods [@pamelapwoods] (April 6, 2020). "I spent some time talking to my brother today. The anger that I have in me is indescribable" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  4. ^ "Alabama Department of Corrections". doc.state.al.us. Archived from the original on October 24, 2012.
  5. ^ a b "Alabama Execution of Death Row Inmate Nathaniel Woods For Cop Killings Will Be a 'Modern Day Lynching,' Family Say". Newsweek. March 5, 2020.
  6. ^ Maxouris, Christina (March 6, 2020). "Nathaniel Woods' execution doesn't end the controversy over his case". CNN. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  7. ^ Hutchinson, Bill (March 7, 2020). "Nathaniel Woods' execution cast scrutiny on Alabama's death penalty. So why is the cop killer who pulled the trigger still alive?". ABC News. Retrieved March 2, 2022.
  8. ^ "Nathaniel Woods executed hours after Supreme Court granted temporary stay". Defender Network. March 6, 2020. Retrieved March 2, 2022.
  9. ^ Savidge, Martin; McLaughlin, Eliott C.; Sanchez, Ray (March 5, 2020). "Alabama executes inmate Nathaniel Woods". CNN. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
  10. ^ a b "Nathaniel Woods Execution Reveals Disturbing Bias in Alabama". Equal Justice Initiative. March 6, 2020. Retrieved July 30, 2021.