Littlejohn was sentenced to death in 1992 for the murder of a grocery store owner during a robbery.

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Emmanuel Littlejohn is scheduled to be executed by lethal injection this morning in Oklahoma, on the fourth five executions that were planned in the United States in the last seven days.

Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt’s office said yesterday that Stitt was still considering Littlejohn’s request for clemency. In an emailed statement, a spokesman said the governor “continues to fervently and carefully review the facts, evidence and recommendations.”

During his final interview with the press before his scheduled execution, Littlejohn told NPR on Wednesday what he would say to Governor Stitt.

“I’m scared,” he told him. “I’ve never been so scared in my life. When someone has your life in their hands and you can’t do anything about it, that’s a burden on a person. It’s a burden on them and you’ll put it off until the last second, but I’ll respect your decision in any case.”

Littlejohn is one of two men convicted of shooting Kenneth Meers during a 1992 Oklahoma City robbery. He insists he was not the one who shot Meers.

“I didn’t kill Mr Meers, but I was there,” he said. “So why should I be executed when I didn’t kill anyone, I was just there?”

The Oklahoma Board of Pardons and Parole recommended a pardon for Littlejohn on August 7, despite objections from some of the victim’s family members.

“We’re struggling to carry on, especially me,” said Bill Meers, Kenneth’s brother. “The anger is unbelievable.”

When asked about the victim’s family on Tuesday, Littlejohn said he apologized to them for his involvement in the crime.

“I feel their pain and suffering every day for the last 30 years. He hasn’t left my mind. And I don’t think he should, because I’m still praying for his family and I’m sorry,” he said. “I’m sorry that this had to happen, but I didn’t kill your son.”

Augustina Sanders hugs Kim Ludwig, a paralegal at the Federal Public Defender’s Office in Oklahoma City, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024, after the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board voted 3-2 to pardon Sanders’ brother, Emmanuel Littlejohn. (AP Photo/Sean Murphy)

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Littlejohn said when he woke up Wednesday morning, prison corrections officers asked him if he wanted something to eat.

“Can you imagine eating on a day like this?” he said. “I said, ‘No, I’m fine.'”

Officers then came by with a tape measure to measure his calves and arms, Littlejohn said.

“They wanted to check my veins to see if they were visible, to see if they found a good way to kill me, I guess,” he said.

Jeff Hood, Littlejohn’s spiritual advisor, remains hopeful that the governor will stop the execution and allow Littlejohn to spend the rest of his life in prison.

“Littlejohn is in a wheelchair and under no circumstances will he ever be able to hurt anyone again,” Hood said. “There is no reason to kill this man.”

Littlejohn has not given up hope either.

“Governor, don’t kill me like that,” he said. “I want to live and I don’t think I deserve to die for it.”