Texas executed Cedric Ricks, 51, for the 2013 murders of his girlfriend Roxann Sanchez, 30, and her 8-year-old son, Anthony.

Ricks also attacked Sanchez’s 12-year-old son, Marcus, who survived by mimicking his brother’s last gurgling sounds during the assault.

The execution took place on March 11 by lethal injection, with Marcus and six other family members witnessing the event.

Ricks tearfully apologized to Marcus and the family, expressing remorse for his actions and hoping they could one day find peace, USA Today has reported.

His attorneys had asked the U.S. Supreme Court to block the execution over alleged racial bias in jury selection, but the court declined to intervene.