South Carolina Executes Inmate by Firing Squad, First in 15 Years

Brad Sigmon, 67, was executed by firing squad in South Carolina

The state of South Carolina has carried out the execution of Brad Sigmon, a 67-year-old inmate, by firing squad, marking the first use of this method in the United States in 15 years. Sigmon, who was convicted of the 2001 murders of David and Gladys Larke, was pronounced dead at 6:08 p.m. following the execution conducted by three volunteer prison employees.

Sigmon was sentenced to death for killing his ex-girlfriend’s parents in a failed attempt to kidnap her. He had admitted to planning a weekend with her, after which he intended to take both their lives. His execution choice was based on concerns about the alternatives, as he feared electrocution would cause extreme suffering and had doubts about the effectiveness of lethal injection.

The chair Sigmon was executed on, left, alongside the electric chair, right, at the South Carolina Department of Corrections

Dressed in a black jumpsuit with a hood over his head, Sigmon had a white target with a red bullseye placed on his chest. The execution took place in the state's death chamber, with prison staff standing 15 feet away behind a firing wall. The gunfire caused immediate impact, and he was pronounced dead after examination by a physician.

Witnesses to the execution included family members of the victims, Sigmon’s attorney and spiritual advisor, a representative from the prosecution, a sheriff’s investigator, and members of the media. Before his execution, Sigmon issued a statement calling for an end to the death penalty, urging fellow Christians to advocate for its abolition.

Capital punishment protesters pray on the grounds of Riverbend Maximum Security Institution before the scheduled execution of inmate Oscar Smith, Thursday, April 21, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)

Governor Henry McMaster rejected appeals for clemency, maintaining South Carolina’s stance on capital punishment. The state has executed 46 inmates since the reinstatement of the death penalty in 1976, utilizing electrocution and lethal injection before resuming executions in 2024.

Protesters gathered outside the prison, holding signs opposing the death penalty. Meanwhile, legal advocates highlighted concerns over the execution process, emphasizing Sigmon’s remorse and transformation during his time in prison.

South Carolina currently has 28 inmates on death row, with two individuals having exhausted their appeals and awaiting execution. The state has scheduled executions to take place at regular intervals following the Supreme Court’s decision to lift a 13-year suspension.

Brad's Sigmon's last words