A California Corrections Department spokeswoman describes convicted killer Stanley Tookie Williams as "complacent, quiet and thoughtful" before his death sentence was carried out this morning.

He declined to have a last meal as he waited in the holding cell, drinking milk instead.

Reporters who witnessed the execution at San Quentin State Prison say there was some difficulty inserting the needle in his left arm.

Another reporter says after the execution began Williams kept lifting his head and then it would fall back down. Witnesses say he was also breathing heavily.

The actual execution took about 13 minutes.