Going out laughing, or trying to

Gallows humor literally attempted during a Texas execution.

“I said I was going to tell a joke,” he said, according to The Associated Press. “Death has set me free. That’s the biggest joke. I deserve this. And the other joke is that I am not Patrick Bryan Knight and y’all can’t stop this execution now. Go ahead, I’m finished.”

Minutes later, he became the 18th inmate executed in Texas so far this year.

Prison officials answered the joke, soberly.