
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, March 4, 1994                   TAG: 9403040224
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: JARRATT                                LENGTH: Medium

MAN WHO KILLED DANVILLE STORE CLERKS IS EXECUTED

Out of appeals and denied clemency by the governor, Johnny Watkins Jr. was executed Thursday night in Virginia's electric chair for the 1983 slayings of two convenience store clerks in Danville.

Watkins, 33, was pronounced dead at 11:11 p.m., said Wayne Brown, operations officer at Greensville Correctional Center.

There were no complications, and Watkins, who had visits Thursday from a paralegal and a friend, had no final statement after he was led into the execution chamber, Brown said.

"I've made peace, and I'm about as ready as I'm going to get, I expect," he told a reporter Tuesday.

Gov. George Allen on Thursday morning rejected Watkins' petition for clemency.

"The governor has concluded that the facts of the case do not warrant exercise of the extraordinary remedy of executive clemency," said a news release from the governor's office.

"Accordingly, Governor Allen does not intend to intervene in the judicially mandated process."

Watkins, who is black, asked Allen last week to call off his execution, alleging racism affected his sentencing.

Commonwealth's Attorney William Fuller said state and federal courts found no discrimination in either of his 1984 trials.

Watkins' convictions were upheld on appeal, and the U.S. Supreme Court refused last month to hear his case.

Watkins killed Betty Jean Barker, 22, as she worked alone Nov. 14, 1983. Barker was filling in for a sick co-worker, Fuller said.

Eight days later, Watkins shot Carl Buchanan, 41, at another store with the same .22-caliber pistol.

In both cases, Watkins shot the victims four times and left the store with the cash drawers, Fuller said.

by CNB