Arizona executes Aaron Gunches, first since 2021

Aaron Gunches was executed by lethal injection on Wednesday, marking Arizona's first execution in nearly two years. Convicted in 2008 for the 2002 murder of Ted Price, Gunches shot Price during a dispute involving his girlfriend, who had a history of drug abuse. His execution was initially delayed due to a review of the state's death penalty process ordered by Governor Katie Hobbs. Gunches, who had been on death row since 2008, waived his right to a clemency hearing, advocating for his death. This execution follows a moratorium on the death penalty in Arizona that began after a controversial execution in 2014. Prior to Gunches, the last execution in Arizona took place in November 2022.