Florida carried out its 18th execution of the year on Tuesday under Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis ' aggressive use of the death penalty in his final term.

William Reaves, 77, was pronounced dead at 6:12 p.m. following a three-drug injection at Florida State Prison near Starke. He was convicted of first-degree murder in the September 1986 shooting death of Indian River County sheriff's deputy Richard Raczkoski.

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The death chamber curtain went up promptly at the 6 p.m. execution time with Reaves already strapped to a gurney with an IV in his arm. Asked if he had any last words, he replied  No, I do not. 

The injection began immediately after that. About 30 seconds later, Reaves took several big breaths and then stopped moving. After a few minutes, the team warden shook Reaves' shoulders and shouted his name, but there was no response. A medic was called in a short time later to check for a heartbeat or any other signs of life, and Reaves was pronounced dead about a minute later.

Reaves was the eighth Florida prisoner over age 70 put to death this year, highlighting the nation's aging death-row population as Florida continues to far outpace the rest of country in total executions. Last year, Florida set a state record with 19 executions in a year, and it's poised to tie that mark if another execution is carried out next month as scheduled.

DeSantis, who leaves office in January after two terms, has said he wants justice to be delivered to victims' families who have often waited decades for death sentences to be imposed.

Marc Raczkoski, the deputy's brother, briefly told reporters after witnessing the execution that his brother finally got justice.

But Indian River County Sheriff Eric Flowers, who was also on hand, said at a post-execution briefing that he saw the execution as closure, not justice.

 Would we all be so lucky to be 77 years old and to die so peacefully,  Flowers said.  That's not justice in any way in my opinion. 

Reaves struggled with the deputy after dropping a gun

Raczkoski responded to a 911 call at a Vero Beac


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