At the age of 18, Brandon Bernard, along with some of his friends, murdered Todd and Stacie Bagley, who were on their way back from Sunday service in Killeen, Texas. Twenty-one years later, Bernard faced the worst punishment that he could possibly receive for his crimes: the death sentence. Brandon Bernard was executed by lethal injection on Thursday, December 10th. Although the enforcement of the death penalty and its validity to Bernard’s case is controversial, Bernard should never be labeled as an innocent man who had no significance in the double murder of the Bagleys.

In 1999, Brandon Bernard and a few other gang members forced the Bagleys into the trunk of their car. The Bagleys complied, for they were held at gunpoint by Christopher Vialva, the oldest of the gang at 19 years old. The teenagers had a premeditated plan to rob the couple; while the Bagleys were trapped in the car trunk, they drove around attempting to use the young couple’s ATM cards. Several hours later, the teenagers pulled the car to the side of the road, and Vialva, the group’s leader, shot the young Iowan couple in the head with the intention of killing both of them.

However, the causes of death for Todd and Stacie Bagley differed. According to the autopsy reports, Todd Bagley died instantly due to the gunshot, but the coroner found Stacie Bagley with soot in her airway, which indicated that she died of smoke inhalation. Bernard lit the car on fire while Stacie Bagley was alive, trapping her inside a burning car to die. Whether or not Bernard was aware of her condition is irrelevant; he assisted his friends with a double homicide and had no intention of being caught for it since he personally burned the evidence.

With Trump’s presidency ending soon, his administration initiated the recent string of death sentences, which many citizens have voiced strong opinions on. Some people insinuate that Brandon Bernard was a hero who was unfairly pronounced guilty. However, they are justifying the murder of a young couple and disrespecting the loss of the Bagleys entirely. Bernard had a choice to back out of his friends’ plan while they were contemplating it. None of his associates pointed a gun at Brandon Bernard’s head and demanded that he destroy the evidence. He had a choice in these matters, yet he chose to follow his group instead of his conscience.

Most of the people who call for leniency for Bernard factor in his race and believe that his punishments were only so serious because he was black. Even though Bernard probably did not deserve the death penalty for his crimes and there may have been racial bias present amongst a prominently-white jury, no one can condone these actions, regardless of his race. To call him completely inculpable would be a total lie.

Many Americans believe that the death penalty should not be enforced, especially in Brandon Bernard’s case. Since Bernard showed true remorse for the crime he committed at a young age, the death penalty was unnecessary, but he should have still finished his life sentence in prison. While his adolescent immaturity can excuse his behavior partially, it cannot be seen as the primary vindication of the murders. Certain actions can be overlooked as youthful indiscretions, such as doing drugs or stealing from a convenience store, but assisting in taking the lives of two individuals should never be disregarded as a simple, childish mistake.

Even if Bernard truly improved his character, he cannot be viewed as a saint; aiding others in murder cannot be forgotten when the lives of two people have been ended due to a “teenage mistake.” Although whether or not the death penalty should be enforced in modern times is still a debatable issue, one thing should remain clear: Brandon Bernard was not innocent, and “getting justice” for him will not be justice for those who suffered at his hands.