At 21 years of age, Lonnie Weeks was sentenced to death for shooting Virginia State Trooper Jose Cavazos.  The two surviving children of Trooper Cavazos asked Governor Gilmore to spare Lonnie Weeks' life.  Cavazos' daughter, Leslie, wrote to the Governor:

Please take into consideration the feelings my brother and I have in this matter.  We have thought about this very carefully.  In our hearts, we have forgiven all that has been done to our family.  We want to set an example for society. We do not condone the act of taking the life of another human being in any way, or for any reason.  It is below the level of an intelligent human being.  This is not (capital punishment) the band aid that will heal society.  It only creates a higher level of animosity in our lives. 

 . . . I know what it [is] like to live with a tragic, violent death of a loved one.  At the time of my father's death I personally would have loved to harm Lonnie Weeks, but that was pure hate, and I've grown up a lot since then.  Now I know forgiveness is better than vengeance, and that love is better than hate.  I never want to see anyone in my lifetime ever go through what I have, and currently the state is about to make another child fatherless.  Yes, I mean Lonnie Weeks' children will never have the chance to make contact with their dad later in life, and later in life is when its so necessary.  Take it from someone who knows. . . .  Please, break this cycle of violence by sparing Lonnie Weeks' life. 

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BACKGROUND INFORMATION ABOUT LONNIE WEEKS, JR. 

In Fayetteville, Lonnie grew up in an area notorious from crime and drugs.  Nevertheless, Lonnie's grandmother, Ms. Evelyn Leach, had a strong influence on his life.  Lonnie stayed out of trouble and was a well-behaved student.  He was an active and enthusiastic member of his church.  He held a part-time job.  He was captain of his high school basketball team and was well liked by other students, his teachers and his coach.  His talent at basketball earned him a scholarship to Mount Olive College. 

However, the summer before Lonnie was to begin college, he fathered a child.  Remembering the trauma of his own broken home, he gave up his scholarship so he could work to support his new family.  Lonnie moved from one low-paying job to the next.  Discouraged, he found it increasingly frustrating to work long hours in dead-end jobs while observing the nice lifestyles of others in his neighborhood.  In his own words, he "took the easy way out."  In April of 1992, Lonnie was arrested for selling marijuana.  Because it was his first offense, he was put on probation, but his life continued to spiral.  After Lonnie was assaulted and threatened by a local drug dealer, a neighbor gave him  a handgun to carry for protection.  In February of 1993, Lonnie and a long-time friend broke into the house of an acquaintance who was serving time in jail.  Lonnie helped himself to the occupant's car - something he had never been able to afford – and decided to drive to Washington D.C. for a family gathering. 

Traveling back from D.C. with his uncle, the car was pulled over for speeding by Trooper Jose Cavazos.  When Trooper Cavazos asked Lonnie to step out of the passenger side, Lonnie panicked and shot him.  When he was 21 years old, he was sentenced to death for this crime.

Without exception, Lonnie's family, his friends, his teachers, his coach, his minister, his employers — were shocked to learn what Lonnie had done.  None could believe that this polite, soft-spoken young man, who had never shown the slightest propensity for violence, could have committed such a violent act.  No one was more stunned than Lonnie himself.

Hours after the shooting, Lonnie Weeks expressed his profound remorse.  As he confessed to shooting Trooper Cavazos, he told the officer, "I would rather for me to be dead than him."  After this confession, he consistently expressed his deep sorrow for what he did and the pain he caused the Cavazos family.  At his trial, Lonnie testified:

"I apologize for what I have done.  I feel that I took an innocent man's life."

"I also know that what I have done, it was very – it's very wrong, is hurting, because I know what it feels like to lose somebody that you love." 

"I've hurt my own family, as well as his family.  Sometimes I actually feel like I can't live with myself, but that, now that I'm back with the Lord, He give me the strength." 

"I pray for my family and his family every night." 

"I feel very ashamed and low. . . .  , every time I hear someone talk about Mr. Cavazos, I begin to cry because it hurts me.  It hurts me so bad into my heart that sometimes I actually feel like I could die from that pain." 

"I guess I felt like I didn't need [the Lord] any more, and so, to myself I say, well, I'm paying for – by my turning my back on Him, I obviously have an indecent mind." 

After his trial, two of Lonnie's jurors explained that they did not want to sentence Lonnie to death, but the jury misunderstood the instructions they were given by the court.  They asked Governor James Gilmore to spare Lonnie's life.

Lonnie Weeks, Jr. was executed on March 16, 2000.