A Louisiana death row inmate on Tuesday was executed with nitrogen gas, a method that has never been used before in the state. 

“Louisiana has officially executed Jessie Hoffman, carrying out the state’s first nitrogen gas execution, his attorneys confirm for us,” Andrea Gallo, a reporter for Nola News, shared in a post on X.

Hoffman, 46, was convicted in 1996 of the kidnapping, rape, and murder of 28-year-old advertising executive, Mary “Molly” Elliott.

Elliott was abducted by Hoffman, who was 18 at the time, from her home the day before Thanksgiving and shot execution-style in rural St. Tammany Parish.

Shortly before Hoffman was scheduled to be put to death, the U.S. Supreme Court denied a last-ditch request to block the execution. 

Hoffman’s attorney, Cecelia Kappel, previously and unsuccessfully argued in a state appeal that executing the convicted murderer by way of nitrogen gas was unconstitutional and would violate his religious freedom

“It’s conscious suffocation,” Kappel told WVUE. “It’s having a pillow over your face. It’s like drowning.” 

The appeal stated that since Hoffman is a Buddhist, his breathing and meditation practices would be disrupted by the execution process.

“He has proposed, ‘Kill me with a firing squad,’” Kappel said. “‘At least then, I’ll be able to breathe air at the time of my death.’ And the state has said no.”

A Louisiana state flag flies at the entrance to the Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola, La., on Tuesday, where convicted killer Jessie Hoffman Jr., was put to death. (Chris Granger/The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate via AP)

Death by nitrogen gas is currently allowed in only four states, including Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi and Oklahoma. However, the method has only been used in Alabama.  

Over recent decades, the number of executions nationally has declined sharply amid legal battles, according to the AP, which has led a majority of states to either abolish or pause carrying out the death penalty.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

Stepheny Price is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. She covers topics including missing persons, homicides, national crime cases, illegal immigration, and more. Story tips and ideas can be sent to stepheny.price@fox.com