Double murderer is first US inmate executed by firing squad in 15 years

In a significant event, Brad Sigmon, a man from South Carolina, was executed by firing squad, marking the first time in 15 years that this method has been used in the United States. Sigmon, who was 67 years old, had been convicted of brutally murdering his ex-girlfriend's parents, David and Gladys Larke, with a baseball bat in 2001. He also attempted to kidnap his ex-girlfriend, who managed to escape when he fired a gun at her. Sigmon chose to die by firing squad instead of the other two methods of execution available in South Carolina, which are the electric chair and lethal injection. Witnesses present during the execution described the atmosphere as tense, with many flinching at the sound of the gunfire. The execution took place on a Friday evening, and Sigmon was pronounced dead just minutes after the execution began. Three members of the Larke family were in attendance, along with Sigmon's spiritual adviser. He was strapped to a chair that had a basin underneath to catch any blood. Before the execution, Sigmon made a final statement expressing his desire for love and urging others to help end the death penalty. He reflected on his ignorance at the time of his sentencing, stating, 'An eye for an eye was used as justification to the jury for seeking the death penalty. ' After his statement, a hood was placed over his head, and the executioners, who were concealed from view, opened fire without any countdown. A reporter present noted that a target was placed over Sigmon's heart, and after the shots were fired, his chest moved several times before a doctor declared him dead. The bullets used were specially designed to cause maximum damage upon impact, and there has been some debate among medical experts regarding the level of pain associated with this method of execution. Witnesses reported that Sigmon was wearing a black jumpsuit, and his arms appeared to flex when he was shot. The shots were fired simultaneously, and the witnesses were provided with earplugs to protect them from the loud noise. Following the execution, counseling services were made available to any prison staff who may have been traumatized by the event. Sigmon's lawyer had sought a last-minute stay of execution from the South Carolina governor, expressing concerns about the lethal injection process and the need for transparency regarding the drugs used. The lawyer stated, 'Brad only wanted assurances that these drugs were not expired, or diluted, or spoiled - what any of us would want to know about the medication we take, or the food we eat, much less the means of our death. ' He criticized the state for carrying out such an execution in 2025, calling it a 'bloody spectacle. ' The lawyer also highlighted Sigmon's mental health struggles and argued that the friendships he formed in prison demonstrated his rehabilitation. For his last meal, Sigmon requested to share three buckets of Kentucky Fried Chicken with his fellow inmates, but this request was denied. Instead, he was served a meal that included four pieces of fried chicken, green beans, mashed potatoes with gravy, biscuits, cheesecake, and sweet tea. This meal was provided to him on the Wednesday evening before his execution. Since 1977, only three individuals have been executed by firing squad in the United States, all of whom were in Utah, with the last being Ronnie Lee Gardner in 2010. In the lead-up to Sigmon's execution, anti-death penalty protesters gathered outside the prison in Columbia, holding signs that read 'all life is precious' and 'thou shalt not kill. ' South Carolina law permits witnesses to observe the execution from behind bulletproof glass, while the identities of the execution team members are kept secret to protect them.