An American nicknamed “the ninja killer” was executed yesterday, Wednesday night in Florida, USA, more than 30 years after he committed a double homicide during a robbery.

The execution of Louis Gaskin took place at 18:15 (local time, 01:15 Greek time), Florida correctional authorities announced.

The Supreme Court had rejected the last appeal of the 56-year-old death row inmate.

On December 20, 1989, Gaskin committed a series of bloody robberies dressed in black—hence the nickname given to him by the American media—to steal Christmas presents for his girlfriend.

Armed with a rifle, he entered the home of a couple in their 50s from New Jersey. According to court documents, he first fired through the window, killing the man and injuring his wife. He then chased her down and killed her.

Gaskin stole some items from the home, alcoholic beverages and jewelry, and then went to a second home, which he also robbed. There he injured a man, but he managed to escape in his wife’s car.

He was arrested a few days later thanks to information provided to the police by his associate, who confessed to the crimes.

A jury found him guilty of the murders, but only eight of the twelve jurors voted to impose the death penalty. Now a unanimous decision of the jury is required in order to impose the final sentences, which was not the case then.

In the following years, his lawyers tried to appeal the decision, mainly citing the psychological problems from which Gaskin suffered.

In 1991 the Florida Court of Appeals found that he suffered from schizophrenia and had auditory hallucinations, although it ruled that he was aware of the gravity of his actions and was therefore criminally responsible.

His other appeals were also unsuccessful, and Florida Gov. Ron DeSandis signed an executive order in March setting his execution date.

The Republican, who aspires to be a candidate in the 2024 presidential elections, had authorized two executions during his first term, but since the beginning of the year he has already signed three related orders.

Since the beginning of 2023, the US has executed 10 death row inmates in just four states – five in Texas, two in Missouri, two in Florida and one in Oklahoma.