Gables Cop Killer to Be Executed Wednesday

The execution of a Florida man convicted of killing a Coral Gables police officer 33 years ago is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon.

Manuel Valle, 61,  is set to be executed by lethal injection at 4 p.m. at Florida State Prison near Raiford, over eight weeks after his original execution date.

Valle was convicted of fatally shooting 41-year-old Luis Pena in the neck during a traffic stop in April 1978. He was driving a stolen car when he was stopped by Pena and officer Gary Spell, who also was shot but saved by his bulletproof vest.

He will be the first Florida prisoner to be executed under a new mix of lethal drugs.

The execution has been delayed twice as courts reviewed appeals that claimed the new mix of drugs would cause pain. Those appeals were rejected by the state Supreme Court and a federal appeals court. Valle's lawyers have an appeal pending before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Valle's death warrant was the first signed by Gov. Rick Scott. The execution would be the first in Florida since February of 2010.