Larry Griffin

For other people named Larry Griffin, see Larry Griffin (disambiguation).

Larry Griffin (September 23, 1954 – June 21, 1995) was sentenced to death for the murder of 19-year-old Quintin Moss in St. Louis, Missouri on the afternoon of June 26, 1980.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7] Moss was killed in a drive-by shooting while allegedly dealing drugs on a street corner. Griffin killed Moss since he was the prime suspect in the murder of his brother. Griffin shot and wounded another man, Robert Campbell, during a previous murder attempt against Moss, and a second man, Robert Campbell, during his second and successful attempt. He also pleaded guilty to the murder of another man named Sylvester Crawford.[8]

Prior convictions

Griffin's lengthy criminal record was a major factor in his death sentence. In 1974, he received concurrent terms of three and two years imprisonment for two counts of second degree burglary. In May 1977, he was arrested for theft under $50,000. He was sentenced to six months of probation. A month later, he was sentenced to three years in prison for felony possession of a controlled substance, stealing over $50,000, misdemeanor assault, and possession of marijuana. In 1979, Griffin was sentenced to 10 years in prison for first degree robbery, felony possession of a controlled substance, second degree burglary, and carrying a concealed weapon.[8]

After being sentenced to death, Griffin pleaded guilty to second degree murder in the unrelated slaying of another victim named Sylvester Crawford.[8]

Death

Appeals courts upheld his conviction and death sentence. Griffin was executed via lethal injection on June 21, 1995. Griffin maintained his innocence right up to his execution.[9][10]

Re-opened investigation

After Griffin's execution, a 2005 post-execution investigation was sponsored by the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund.[11][12][13] This NAACP investigation raised doubts about the conviction (specifically as to the shooter's identity), and subsequently caused an investigation by the St. Louis City Circuit Attorney's Office. The St. Louis City investigation ended in a finding that "the right person was convicted".[14] The investigation found a new witness who corroborated the testimony of Robert Fitzgerald, who was the key witness against Griffin at his trial.[15]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Larry Griffin". Archived from the original on January 11, 2003.
  2. ^ Herbert, Bob (July 14, 2005). "Convicted, Executed, Not Guilty". The New York Times.
  3. ^ Did Missouri execute an innocent man?. MSNBC (2005-07-12). Retrieved on 2007-11-20.
  4. ^ "Humans make mistakes". The Economist. July 21, 2005. ISSN 0013-0613. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  5. ^ "How overzealous prosecution and racial bias result in unjust death sentences in Missouri". KCUR - Kansas City news and NPR. November 27, 2022. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  6. ^ "Execution of an innocent?". St. Louis American. July 14, 2005. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  7. ^ L. Kirchmeier, Jeffrey (Winter 2006). "Dead Innocent: The Death Penalty Abolitionist Search for a Wrongful Execution". Tulsa Law Review. 42 (2). Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  8. ^ a b c "Just Facts - Death Penalty". www.justfacts.com. November 4, 2025. Retrieved November 4, 2025.
  9. ^ Reasonable Doubts: Is the U.S. Executing Innocent People? (PDF) (Report). Equal Justice USA. October 26, 2000.
  10. ^ "Convicted killer executed, but was he guilty?". NBC News. June 25, 2007. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  11. ^ Zernike, Kate (July 19, 2005). "Executed Man May Be Cleared in New Inquiry". The New York Times.
  12. ^ "Missouri death sentence case gets another look". MSNBC. The Associated Press. August 5, 2005. Retrieved November 20, 2007.
  13. ^ "Campaign to clear executed US man". BBC News. July 13, 2005. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  14. ^ Tribune, Chicago (July 13, 2007). "Report: Executed inmate was guilty". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  15. ^ "New investigation confirms guilt of St. Louis man executed in 1995". STLPR. July 12, 2007. Retrieved June 27, 2025.
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