TEXAS LAST MEAL
ANDREW PEREZ FLORES
September 21, 2004

Showtime is over...

Last Meal: four BBQ Beef Ribs, a Beef steak, skinless mashed potatoes, pinto beans, ten flour tortillas, two Big Red sodas, three Orange sodas, a pint of vanilla ice cream, two chalupas, three tamales, salad with Thousand Island dressing, a BBQ chicken, a fried chicken, beef fajitas and chicken fajitas.

The skinny: Flores was executed for murdering a convenience store clerk during a 1993 robbery.

More skinny: Flores, known as "Showtime" on the street, led a San Antonio street gang that recruited fourth-graders to fight and steal for him. Along with accomplice, Flores entered a Stop-N-Go convenience store, and pointed a handgun at the victim demanding money. After the victim stuffed the money from the cash drawer into a plastic grocery sack, Flores then demanded the keys to his car. The victim begged Flores not to take his car, but Flores responded by reaching over the counter and shooting the man in the head with a handgun as he was kneeling on the floor.

Flores and his partner quickly left the store, but Flores returned moments later, walked behind the counter where the victim lay bleeding, and searched his pockets for car keys. Flores took the wrong keys and they could not start the car, instead fleeing on foot with $44 cash.

A surveillance-camera captured the robbery and murder in its entirety. Both were recognized after the tape was aired on television. They were arrested within hours of the shooting. "I do remember when police caught up with him, he was trying to leave town and changed the color of his hair and was in the process of packing bags," Mike Cohen, the Bexar County assistant district attorney who prosecuted the capital murder case.

Flores confessed to the crime. and gave to authorities cash taken in the robbery and the .22-caliber handgun used in the slaying. He later pled guilty to capital murder at trial.

His accomplice was also convicted of capital murder for being the lookout during the robbery and received a life prison term.

DME ADVICE: Parents, never, ever, ever, let your kids work as a conveniece store clerk. Look back at our archives. On that note: videotape by the security camera showed the victim as he lay dying, trying in vain to move and respond each time an unaware customer would enter the store and look for the seemingly absent store clerk.

Last words and such: "Today I go home to the Lord. But first I have to say something. I am real sorry. I took a family member's life and I shouldn't have. I hope that you can move on. I'm just sorry. I can't bring anyone back. I would if I could. I won't ask for your forgiveness. God will be my judge." Flores then turned and expressed his love to his friends and relatives, including his sobbing mother and sister. "Be strong and I will see you all, hopefully not soon. Keep your head up."

Factoids: At least 11 other have execution dates in Texas for later this year, including five next month.

Flores was the....

44th murderer executed in U.S. in 2004
929th murderer executed in U.S. since 1976
13th murderer executed in Texas in 2004
326th murderer executed in Texas since 1976

The final meal request for Andrew Flores, Texas, September 21, 2004.

For his final meal, Flores requested four BBQ Beef Ribs, a Beef steak, skinless mashed potatoes, pinto beans, ten flour tortillas, two Big Red sodas, three Orange sodas, a pint of vanilla ice cream, two chalupas, three tamales, salad with Thousand Island dressing, a BBQ chicken, a fried chicken, beef fajitas and chicken fajitas.

A complete summary will be forthcoming shortly...