Brad Sigmon, a man convicted of a double murder in 2002, was executed by firing squad in South Carolina, a method not previously used by the state. He was the oldest inmate to be executed, and the three-person squad used .308 Winchester rifles. Sigmon’s final statement called for an end to the death penalty and was read before his death.
His lawyer, Gerald “Bo” King, expressed horror at the violent nature of Sigmon’s death, stating that he chose the firing squad as the only option after previous lethal injection executions resulted in prolonged and potentially torturous deaths. Governor Henry McMaster denied Sigmon’s request for clemency, and the U.S. Supreme Court denied an application for a stay of execution.
Protesters, including the brother of the last prisoner executed by firing squad in the U.S., gathered outside the prison during the execution. South Carolina recently legalized the firing squad as an execution method, giving inmates the choice between firing squad, lethal injection, or electrocution.
Sigmon admitted his guilt but chose the firing squad due to concerns about previous lethal injections in the state. South Carolina resumed executions in 2021 after a 13-year pause due to difficulties obtaining lethal injection drugs.
Despite controversy surrounding the use of the firing squad, some argue that it is a less inhumane option compared to other execution methods. Deborah Denno, a law professor, noted that execution by firing squad can be quick and relatively painless compared to other methods like lethal injection or nitrogen gas. The return of the firing squad in South Carolina is part of a larger trend of more states adopting it as a primary execution method.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image associated with the presented article. Due to copyright reasons, we are unable to use the original images. However, you can still enjoy the accurate and up-to-date content and information provided.
