What were convicted murderer Gary Gilmore’s actual last words?

On the morning of his execution, Gary Mark Gilmore (12/4/40 – 1/17/77) was asked if he had any last words and replied, “Let’s do it.” He was strapped into a chair in front of a wall of sandbags. Prison Chaplain Thomas Meersman administered Last Rites. After the prison physician hooded him, Mr. Gilmore said his actual last words, “Dominus vobiscum” or “The Lord be with you”, and Rev. Meersman answered “Et cum spititu tuo”, or “And with your spirit.”

Fear that hanging might not be immediately lethal, Mr. Gilmore chose to face a firing squad. Five local police officers volunteered. Each stood 20 feet (6.1 meters) away, behind a curtain with small firing holes, and aimed for the chest. It was customary for four of the firing officers to be provided rifles with blanks while only one had a live round in the chamber, so that no one would know who fired the kill shot. However, Mr. Gilmore’s body had five fresh bullet wounds after the execution.

Mr. Gilmore turned to crime in his early teens, committing his last two on July 19 and 20, 1976 in Utah, robbing and murdering a gas station attendant and then a motel manager.

He shot himself in the hand while trying to throw the gun away. He was tried in Provo, Utah. His distant cousin, Brenda, with whom he had been staying, turned him in. He refused to fight his conviction, saying that he deserved to die. He donated his organs for transplantation and his corneas helped two people to see.