Protesters Burst Into Cheers as Julius Jones's Death Sentence Is Commuted

Oklahoma Gov Kevin Stitt commuted the death sentence of Julius Jones on Thursday, November 18, just hours before he was scheduled to be executed.

This footage, taken inside the Oklahoma State Capitol on Thursday, captures the moment protesters learn of Stitt’s decision, and burst into celebrations.

Protesters had gathered at the capitol and the governor’s mansion overnight demanding that Gov Stitt commute Jones’s sentence.

The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board, citing doubts about Jones’s guilt, had voted 3-1 to ask Stitt to commute his death sentence to life imprisonment. Jones had been placed on death row after he was convicted for the murder of businessman Paul Howell in 1999. Credit: Tyler Talley via Storyful