Martin Edward Grossman on Tuesday was the fifth execution since Republican Gov. Charlie Crist reinstated the death penalty in July 2008.

But on the final day of his life, nearly 50,000 calls and e-mails flooded Crist’s office pleading for him to halt the execution, a spokesman said. Many of the calls came from New York, where Jewish leaders organized a petition campaign to save Grossman’s life.

The Gainesville Sun explores some of the issues raised by petitioners.

Meanwhile, here is the Associated Press account of the execution.

Gov. Charlie Crist signed a death warrant for Martin Grossman, convicted of murdering a Pinellas County wildlife officer in 1984.

Grossman is scheduled to be put to death by lethal injection on Feb. 16 at 6 p.m.

Grossman was 19 years old when he and a friend went to a wooded area in Pinellas County on Dec. 13, 1984 to shoot a stolen handgun.

Florida Wildlife Officer Margaret Park interrupted them and Grossman pleaded with her not to report him for having the gun and being outside Pasco County, both of which were violations of his probation for burglery.

Grossman struck Park on the back of the head when she tried to radio for help and his accomplice beat her.

Grossman, who was a foot taller and 100 pounds heavier than Park, wrestled her gun away from her and shot her in the back of the head.

The Florida Supreme Court issued stays of execution for two other Death Row inmates Crist had ordered to be put to death. Including Grossman, Crist has ordered seven Death Row inmate executions since taking office in 2007.

Those cases are still pending.