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Tenn governor calls off execution, citing oversight in plan

An officer with the Tennessee Department of Correction announces to a group of anti-capital punishment demonstrators that the scheduled execution of inmate Oscar Smith has been delayed, Thursday, April 21, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee issued a statement Thursday saying he was granting a temporary reprieve to Smith, a 72-year-old inmate. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey) Dr. Kevin Riggs of Franklin Community Church prays with a group of capital punishment protesters on the grounds of Riverbend Maximum Security Institution before the scheduled execution of inmate Oscar Smith Thursday, April 21, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee issued a statement Thursday saying he was granting a temporary reprieve to Smith, a 72-year-old inmate. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey) FILE - This undated photo provided by the Tennessee Department of Correction shows inmate Oscar Smith. Tennessee's governor on Thursday, April 21, called off what was to have been the state's first execution since the start of the pandemic, granting a temporary reprieve to Smith, 72, for what was called an “oversight" in preparations for the lethal injection. Republican Gov. Bill Lee didn't elaborate on what issue forced the surprise 11th-hour stop to the planned execution. (Tennessee Department of Correction via AP, File) Capital punishment protesters pray on the grounds of Riverbend Maximum Security Institution before the scheduled execution of inmate Oscar Smith, Thursday, April 21, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee issued a statement Thursday saying he was granting a temporary reprieve to Smith, a 72-year-old inmate. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey) People leave the demonstration area set up for capital punishment protesters after an announcement was made that the scheduled execution of inmate Oscar Smith has been delayed, Thursday, April 21, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee issued a statement Thursday saying he was granting a temporary reprieve to Smith, a 72-year-old inmate. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey) Officers on horseback guard the entrance to designated demonstrator areas near Riverbend Maximum Security Institution as people wait to enter before the scheduled execution of inmate Oscar Smith, Thursday, April 21, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee issued a statement Thursday saying he was granting a temporary reprieve to Smith, a 72-year-old inmate. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey) Capital punishment protesters pray on the grounds of Riverbend Maximum Security Institution before the scheduled execution of inmate Oscar Smith, Thursday, April 21, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee issued a statement Thursday saying he was granting a temporary reprieve to Smith, a 72-year-old inmate. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey) FILE - This undated photo provided by the Tennessee Department of Correction shows inmate Oscar Smith. Tennessee's governor on Thursday, April 21, called off what was to have been the state's first execution since the start of the pandemic, granting a temporary reprieve to Smith, 72, for what was called an "oversight" in preparations for the lethal injection. Republican Gov. Bill Lee didn't elaborate on what issue forced the surprise 11th-hour stop to the planned execution. (Tennessee Department of Correction via AP, File) A group of capital punishment protesters prays on the grounds of Riverbend Maximum Security Institution before the scheduled execution of inmate Oscar Smith, Thursday, April 21, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee issued a statement Thursday saying he was granting a temporary reprieve to Smith, a 72-year-old inmate. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey) People leave the demonstration area set up for capital punishment protesters after an announcement was made that the scheduled execution of inmate Oscar Smith has been delayed, Thursday, April 21, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)