Aaron Gunches executed in Arizona for 2002 murder

Aaron Brian Gunches, 53, was executed by lethal injection in Arizona on Wednesday for the 2002 murder of Ted Price, his girlfriend's ex-boyfriend. Gunches had pushed for his execution to be expedited, claiming it was 'long overdue', and refrained from making any final statements before his death. Witnesses reported that the execution appeared to go smoothly, with no visible issues, although some, including a legal expert, suggested that he may have suffered from pulmonary edema, a condition that can cause distressing symptoms. Gunches was convicted in 2007 after he shot Price four times following a dispute, and he was arrested in 2003 after shooting a state trooper. His execution took place at the Arizona State Prison Complex in Florence, with officials stating that the process was carried out as planned. The complexities surrounding the execution have reignited discussions about the death penalty and its implications.