Louisiana used nitrogen gas to put Jessie Hoffman Jr., 46, to death Tuesday evening in the state's first execution in 15 years. Nitrogen gas has been used just four other times to execute a person in the United States — all in Alabama, the only other state with a protocol for the method.

A Louisiana inmate found guilty of raping and murdering a New Orleans woman is scheduled to be the first person executed via nitrogen gas in that state in 15 years — despite the controversy surroundin