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Bernard, 40, was convicted in 2000 of two counts of murder and other offenses for his role in the kidnapping, robbery and murder of a couple in Killeen, Texas, in 1999. His execution was scheduled in October, just months after the Trump administration ended a 17-year hiatus on federal executions.
"Tonight, those of us who love Brandon Bernard — and we are many — are full of righteous anger and deep sadness at the actions of the federal government in taking his life," Robert Owen, one of Bernard's lawyers, said in a prepared statement on Thursday. "Brandon’s life mattered. To us, his legal team; to his two beautiful and talented daughters; to his mother, brother, and sister; and to the countless people around the country who came to know him and his story in recent weeks."
Bernard and four other young men carried out the carjacking and robbery that led to the deaths of Todd and Stacie Bagley, who were in Killeen at the time to see friends and visit a church.