South Carolina Executes Man by Firing Squad, First in 15 Years \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Brad Sigmon, a 67-year-old convicted murderer, was executed by firing squad in South Carolina on Friday, marking the first U.S. execution by this method in 15 years. Sigmon, who killed his ex-girlfriend’s parents in 2001, chose the firing squad over the electric chair or lethal injection. His execution was carried out by three volunteer prison employees with rifles. His final statement called for ending the death penalty.
Quick Look
- First in 15 Years: Sigmon is the first U.S. inmate executed by firing squad since 2010.
- Conviction: Sigmon was sentenced to death for beating his ex-girlfriend’s parents to death in 2001.
- Execution Details: Three armed prison staff fired at a red bullseye target on his chest.
- Reason for Choice: Sigmon feared the electric chair and lethal injection would cause severe suffering.
- Final Statement: He urged fellow Christians to fight against the death penalty.
- Protests: Demonstrators gathered outside the prison with signs opposing capital punishment.
- Ongoing Executions: South Carolina is set to execute more inmates every five weeks.
Deep Look
Brad Sigmon, a convicted murderer sentenced to death in 2001, was executed by firing squad in South Carolina on Friday evening, marking the first use of this execution method in the U.S. since 2010.
The 67-year-old inmate was convicted of beating his ex-girlfriend’s parents to death with a baseball bat in their Greenville County home as part of a failed plan to kidnap their daughter. After exhausting his appeals, Sigmon was put to death in the state’s death chamber.
His execution revives a controversial method that has long been associated with military executions, frontier justice, and authoritarian regimes.
Why Sigmon Chose the Firing Squad
Sigmon’s decision to die by firing squad was largely based on concerns about suffering. His legal team argued that:
- The electric chair would “cook him alive” and cause extreme pain.
- Lethal injection could result in a slow, painful death, with pentobarbital causing a rush of blood and fluid into his lungs.
- South Carolina refuses to disclose its lethal injection process, raising additional concerns.
His final legal attempt to delay the execution was rejected by the South Carolina Supreme Court just one day before his death.
Execution Process and Final Moments
At 6:08 p.m., three volunteer prison officers stood 15 feet away from Sigmon and fired their rifles through small openings in a wall.
Sigmon’s Final Setup
- He wore a black jumpsuit with a white target featuring a red bullseye over his chest.
- His head was covered with a hood before the shots were fired.
- A doctor confirmed his death after 90 seconds of examination.
“It is unfathomable that, in 2025, South Carolina would execute one of its citizens in this bloody spectacle,” said Gerald “Bo” King, a federal public defender.
Witnesses included:
- Family members of the victims, David and Gladys Larke
- Sigmon’s attorney and spiritual advisor
- A sheriff’s investigator and three media representatives
Outside the prison, protesters gathered, holding signs reading “All life is precious” and “Execute justice, not people.”
The History and Controversy of Firing Squad Executions
While the firing squad is one of the oldest execution methods in the world, it has rarely been used in modern U.S. history. Since 1977, only three other prisoners have been executed by firing squad, all in Utah.
Recent Firing Squad Executions in the U.S.:
- Gary Gilmore (1977) – First execution after the death penalty was reinstated.
- John Albert Taylor (1996) – Chose firing squad over lethal injection in protest.
- Ronnie Lee Gardner (2010) – Last person executed this way before Sigmon.
Now, another Utah inmate, Ralph Menzies, may be the next to die by firing squad, pending a legal decision on his dementia diagnosis.
South Carolina’s Death Row and Future Executions
Sigmon’s execution marks the second in South Carolina since the state’s 13-year pause on capital punishment ended in July 2024.
- The state plans to carry out one execution every five weeks.
- 28 prisoners remain on death row, with two expected to be executed this spring.
- Over the past decade, South Carolina’s death row population has significantly decreased, from more than 60 inmates to 28.
Recent Executions in South Carolina
- Freddie Owens (Sept. 20, 2024) – First execution after the pause ended.
- Richard Moore (Nov. 1, 2024) – Executed by electric chair.
- Marion Bowman Jr. (Jan. 31, 2025) – Also executed by electric chair.
Final Statement and Clemency Denial
Before his death, Sigmon issued a final statement calling for an end to the death penalty, framing his execution as an example of why capital punishment should be abolished.
“I call on my fellow Christians to help us end the death penalty,” he said.
Supporters pleaded with Governor Henry McMaster to commute his sentence to life in prison, citing:
- His deep remorse and faith-based transformation while on death row.
- Severe mental illness at the time of his crimes.
- His good behavior and reputation as a model inmate.
However, McMaster denied the clemency plea, upholding South Carolina’s long-standing refusal to commute any death sentence.
“South Carolina has ended the life of a man who devoted himself to his faith and service,” said King, the federal public defender.
The Future of Capital Punishment in South Carolina
With executions resuming regularly, South Carolina is reaffirming its commitment to the death penalty, even as some states move to abolish or restrict it.
The use of firing squads in modern executions remains controversial, raising ethical and legal questions about whether such methods belong in the 21st century.
With the state now planning executions every five weeks, South Carolina’s death penalty debate is far from over.
