Some retired lawmen are remembering a tragic day 25 years ago today.

That's when Trooper Jeff Young was killed by then-42-year-old Daniel Burns Jr.

Burns, who is now 67, has been sitting on death row since being convicted of murder in 1988.

Retired Florida Highway Capt. J.R. Motes and retired Manatee County Sheriff's Office Capt. Mike Mayer want to know why the cop killer hasn't been executed.

"Twenty-five years later, I'm wondering why Daniel Burns is still sitting on death row," Motes said.

"It's a travesty," Mayer said. "This man should die for what he did."

Twenty-five years after the crime, a white cross planted on the side of I-75 marks the spot near Ellenton where Young was shot and killed.

Motes says that during a traffic stop, Young discovered Burns was smuggling crack cocaine.

A fight ensued, and Burns got a hold of the trooper's gun.

Motes says Burns then killed Young execution-style.

"He was on his knees, he was telling Burns, 'you don't need to do this; you don't need to,' " Motes said. "He had his hands up (blocking his face)."

"Burns cocked the revolver, pointed at the trooper in a typical three-point stance and fired one round, which severed the trooper's wedding band and struck the trooper at the very bottom of the upper lip and penetrated into the brain cavity, killing him instantly," Mayer said.

That day is seared into Florida Highway Patrol Lt. Doug Dodson's memory.

Dodson says he talked to Young shortly before the shooting.

"I said, 'let's go get something to eat, Jeff,' " Dodson recalled. "And I remember, he said, 'no, Karen (Young's wife) said she called me and said we're going to have pizza."

Burns was captured a few hours after the shooting.

Young's gun was found in a canal.

Burns was sentenced to death in 1988 and re-sentenced in 1994. The lawmen wonder if the execution will ever happen.

"Well, it's been 25 years," Motes said. "How long are we going to feed this guy? And board him? And let him sit around and take it easy? People will say, 'well he's got to sit there and think about this every day.' I hope to heck he does."

"I harbor a lot of resentment that this man sits on death row," Mayer said. "While this trooper's family here in Manatee County are waiting for the sentence to be carried out."

A spokesman for Gov. Rick Scott's office said Burns hasn't exhausted all of his appeals. Burns is one of 100 inmates who have been on death row for more than 20 years. The spokesman also said Scott believes in swift justice but must wait on federal and state courts before signing a death warrant.