Joe Imel/Daily NewsKevin Terry, of Bowling Green, prays during a candlelight nondenomational prayer service. Friday during a About a dozen people gathered at Holy Spirit Catholic Church for a candlelight and prayer vigil for Marco Chapman and his victims Friday night. The group prayed and sang "Amazing Grace". Chapman was executed tonight in the state penitenary in Eddyville.

Two groups of citizens gathered Friday night, banding together against the state’s use of capital punishment.

Marco Allen Chapman died at 7:34 p.m. Friday at the Kentucky State Penitentiary in Eddyville, executed by lethal injection – the first in the state since 1999. The 37-year-old pleaded guilty in 2004 to killing two young childred in their northern Kentucky home; once convicted, he asked to be executed and fought for the right to fire his attorneys to clear the way.

About a dozen people gathered at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, to pray for Chapman, his family and the family of his victims; a few others gathered outside Warren County Justice Center.

Click here for more photos and sounds from the vigil.

Both groups were hopeful for a last-minute reprieve – one that never came.

Sheila Hardcastle and Peggy Wright, both of Bowling Green, organized the Holy Spirit event. Hardcastle is part of a group from the church that visits inmates at the Warren County Regional Jail, while Wright works with inmates on death row in Eddyville as well as other inmates with long sentences.

Wright noted that many people are calling Chapman’s death “suicide by court,” as he had given up all his appeals.

“He has stated he wants to die to give his victim’s family whatever peace it will bring,” she said.

Yet neither Chapman’s family nor the victim’s have been asked what their opinion is about the execution, Wright said.

“Chapman committed a horrible act,” she said. “But does the violent act of killing Chapman solve anything? Violent acts foster more violent acts. Life without parole is a much better option than murder.”

Just before 6 p.m., the group began a prayer and then lit candles, which were extinguished around the time the execution was complete; nothing but silent prayers were offered after 6 p.m.

Meanwhile, at the justice center, a few people simply talked and had a discussion about the death penalty.

Charles Busse of Bowling Green, one of four who braved the cold outside the justice center, said there are better options for the state to use instead of capital punishment – noting it’s much cheaper to house someone in prison for life than to executing him,

“The state of Kentucky has spent $300 million since 1976 to kill two people,” Busse said. “Imagine what other things that money could have been spent for.”

Sam McFarland echoed those sentiments, but also pointed to an ethical qualm.

“I don’t want the state killing people in my name,” he said.

Before his conviction, Chapman attempted to forego a defense, telling the court he simply wanted to plead guilty. Since that time, Chapman had waived all his appeals. On Wednesday, the Kentucky Supreme Court rejected two requests to halt the planned execution, stating that Chapman was competent to make his own decision about wanting to die.