<p><br /> A Utah firing squad shot to death a convicted killer early on Friday in the third US execution by that means since 1976.<br /> </p><p><br /> Ronnie Lee Gardner, 49, was pronounced dead at 12:20 am Mountain Time (0620 GMT) after being shot in the chest by a five-man firing squad at the Utah State Prison in Draper, a suburb of Salt Lake City.<br /> </p><p><br /> Gardner was condemned to die for the murder of an attorney during a bloody 1985 escape attempt and chose the firing squad as his means of execution before it was banned by the state and replaced by lethal injection.<br /> </p><p><br /> His last hope for a reprieve was dashed when the US Supreme Court denied his 11th-hour appeal.<br /> </p><p><br /> As the execution neared, Gardner was strapped to a black metal chair and hooded and a target was placed over his chest.<br /> </p><p><br /> Five executioners fired .30 caliber rifles, although one of the firearms carried a blank, allowing members of the firing squad to retain some doubt over whether or not they fired a fatal round into Gardner's chest.<br /> </p><p><br /> Gardner ate his last meal of steak, lobster tail, apple pie, vanilla ice cream and 7UP soda on Thursday, having chosen to fast for the remaining time until his execution.<br /> </p><p><br /> On Thursday, Utah Governor Gary Herbert, who does not have the power to commute a death sentence or pardon a condemned prisoner, denied Gardner's request for a temporary stay of execution.<br /> </p>
