Execution Report: Henry Dunn

In November 1993, Donald Aldrich, 29, Henry Dunn, then 19, and David McMillian, 17, drove to a city park that was known as a meeting place for homosexuals. At the park, Aldrich spotted Nicholus West, 23. He got out of their car and approached West, who was in his pickup. Aldrich pretended to be interested in West, and West invited Aldrich to join him. The two drove together to a nearby parking lot. Dunn and McMillian followed in their car.

Once in the parking lot, the three men brandished weapons at West and forced him into their car. With Dunn holding a gun on West, McMillian drove them to a clay pit about ten miles outside of town. Aldrich drove West's pickup. When they arrived, the trio walked West away from the road, into the pit. They made him remove his pants and shoes and stole his wallet. They then shot him 9 to 15 times and left his body in the pit, face down. They then left the scene, with Aldrich driving West's truck and McMillian and Dunn in their car. West's body was discovered by dirt bikers two days later.

Dunn was arrested in posession of West's pickup. He gave a videotaped confession in which he admitted firing the first shot. He said he fired his gun in the air, and the others began firing their guns at West. Dunn also said that he fired at West from four to six times and that one of his shots probably hit West in the head. After his arrest, Aldrich told police that he and his accomplices went to the park on the night of West's murder with the intention of finding homosexuals to assault.

Evidence presented at Dunn's trial showed that he used a .357 Magnum and that matching bullets were found in the victim's body, including one in his head. Dunn had no prior felony convictions, but he had been arrested three times for assault and aggravated robbery. In each case, the charges were dropped.

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