Last year, a new execution method was used in the U.S. for the first time since 1982. Here’s a look at how people have been executed throughout history.

Louisiana used nitrogen gas to put Jessie Hoffman Jr., 46, to death Tuesday evening in the state's first execution in 15 years. Nitrogen gas has been used just four other times to execute a person in the United States — all in Alabama, the only other state with a protocol for the method.

It was the fifth time nitrogen gas was used in the U.S. after four executions by the same method — all in Alabama.