HOUSTON -- A federal court on Tuesday rejected the appeal of a Houston man sent to death row for the shooting death of his 19-month-old son.

The rejection from the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals moved Timothy Wayne Adams a step closer to execution for the February 2002 slaying of his namesake son, Timothy Wayne Adams Jr.

In a brief order, the New Orleans-based court said Adams failed to show his constitutional rights were violated at his trial seven years ago in Houston.

Adams' appeals attorney did not immediately return a call from The Associated Press seeking comment.

In appeals rejected by lower courts, Adams, 41, contended his trial lawyers had been deficient. He pleaded guilty to the slaying and a Harris County jury then heard punishment testimony where his appeal said Adams unfairly was labeled a baby killer. Jurors deliberated more than two days before returning with the death sentence.

Prosecutors said Adams killed his son to cause suffering for his wife, who was trying to leave him. Defense attorneys argued the events were an aberration in an otherwise law-abiding life and that Adams had intended to kill himself before friends and police talked him out of it.

The shooting had escalated to a police standoff at the family's apartment in southwest Houston.

Evidence showed Adams held his child at arm's length and shot him once with a pistol, then shot him again as the boy lay on the floor.

He does not have an execution date.