Nevada Executions Failed to Occur as Scheduled
State officials did not proceed with the planned September 14, 2026, executions of two death row inmates.
Updated on Oct. 10, 2026 in Criminal Justice
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The scheduled September 14, 2026, execution date for inmates Donald William Sherman and Zane Michael Floyd passed without incident. Nevada has now gone two decades without carrying out a death penalty sentence.
Why it matters
Capital punishment cases in the state involve extensive litigation and significant financial burdens, often adding $500,000 to the cost of a single case. Officials additionally face practical difficulties in procuring necessary execution drugs.
Nevada currently holds 46 offenders on death row. Of the 12 individuals executed in the state since 1974, 11 were considered volunteers.
The players
Clark County District Attorney's Office
This local agency is responsible for the prosecution of criminal cases and the filing of motions for execution warrants in the Las Vegas area.
Donald William Sherman
He is an offender currently residing on Nevada's death row.
Zane Michael Floyd
He is an offender currently residing on Nevada's death row.
The details
The Clark County District Attorney's Office filed motions for execution warrants for Sherman and Floyd in May 2026, though these dates are not guaranteed to result in a procedure. The state has not executed an inmate since 2006, with Scott Dozier later dying by suicide in prison in 2019.
Timeline
Capital punishment was reinstated in Nevada in 1974.
The last execution occurred in Nevada in 2006.
Scott Dozier committed suicide in prison in January 2019.
Execution warrants for Sherman and Floyd were filed in May 2026.
The scheduled execution date of September 14, 2026, passed.
Legal Context
The current two-decade hiatus in Nevada capital punishment marks a significant departure from the practices followed up until the 2006 Nevada execution. Persistent challenges in drug procurement and legal appeals continue to shape the state's approach to the death penalty.
The prolonged lack of executions in the state maintains the current status quo for death row security operations. Residents and local businesses see no changes to safety protocols as the state continues its long-standing de facto moratorium on the death penalty.
The takeaway
Nevada remains in a cycle where death sentences are issued but rarely carried out due to legal and logistical barriers. Families and taxpayers continue to shoulder the financial costs associated with these protracted capital cases.
Further reading
Learn more about local legal proceedings on the Criminal Justice page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KSNV.
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