Data came from the CD-ROM version of FBI Supplemental Homicide Reports for California for 1992; noncriminal homicides were purged from the data set. Comparison periods were the 4 months immediately preceding and the 8 months immediately following the Harris execution. Based on the assumptions of deterrence theory, decreases in felony and adult offender homicides were expected in the aftermath of the execution. Based on the assumptions of brutalization theory (homicides will increase after executions), increases in nonfelony, gun/knife, and teenage offender homicides were expected. Based on the assumption that deterrence and brutalization effects tend to nullify each other in overall homicide levels, no changes in overall homicides were expected. Findings show that there were both short-term deterrent and long-term brutalization effects of the execution on various types of homicides, but the net effects included increases in overall homicides and most disaggregated types of homicides consistent with the brutalization theory. Study limitations and suggestions for future research are discussed. 2 tables, appended description of variables, 4 notes, and 26 references