Convicted murderer Don Johnson was executed last evening by lethal injection. The first death-row inmate to be put to death in 2019, Johnson was pronounced dead at 7:37 p.m.

As the drugs entered his system, Johnson sang Christian hymns.

Johnson was sentenced to die for the killing of his wife, Connie Johnson, in 1984.

A Tennessee Department of Correction representative read a statement from Connie Johnson’s family after the execution was carried out. “Connie’s death was inhumane and indescribable,” it said. “There will never be enough to bring Connie back.”

Earlier this week, Governor Bill Lee denied Johnson clemency, issuing this statement: “After a prayerful and deliberate consideration of Don Johnson’s request for clemency, and after a thorough review of the case, I am upholding the sentence of the State of Tennessee and will not be intervening.”

Three more death-row inmate executions are scheduled for this year.