South Carolina inmate Brad Sigmon chooses firing squad execution, becoming the first in the state to select this method in over a decade.
Top Takeaways
- Brad Sigmon, 67, has chosen execution by firing squad on March 7, 2025, over lethal injection or electric chair.
- This will be the first firing squad execution in the U.S. in 15 years.
- Sigmon was convicted of murdering his ex-girlfriend’s parents in 2001.
- South Carolina reintroduced the firing squad due to difficulties obtaining lethal injection drugs.
- The case has reignited debates on the ethics and methods of capital punishment.
Inmate’s Unprecedented Choice
Brad Sigmon, a 67-year-old death row inmate in South Carolina, has made a decision that has thrust the state’s capital punishment practices into the national spotlight. Sigmon has chosen to be executed by firing squad on March 7, 2025, marking a significant moment in the state’s criminal justice history. This choice comes after South Carolina reintroduced the firing squad as an execution method, citing difficulties in obtaining drugs for lethal injections.
Sigmon’s decision is notable as it will be the first firing squad execution in the United States in 15 years, with the last three occurring in Utah, most recently in 2010. The execution will be carried out by three volunteers firing at Sigmon from 15 feet away, with a hood over his head and a target placed over his heart.
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The Crime and Conviction
Sigmon was convicted for the brutal murders of his ex-girlfriend’s parents in 2001, committed with a baseball bat. He also attempted to kidnap his ex-girlfriend during the incident. If the execution proceeds as scheduled, Sigmon will become the oldest inmate executed in South Carolina since the reinstatement of the death penalty in 1976.
Sigmon’s legal team is currently appealing to the state Supreme Court, arguing that his trial lawyers were inexperienced and failed to present mitigating factors. His last hope for clemency rests with Governor Henry McMaster, although it’s worth noting that no clemency has been granted in South Carolina in 49 years.
Debate Over Execution Methods
Sigmon’s choice of firing squad over lethal injection has reignited debates about the humaneness and ethics of various execution methods. His decision was influenced by concerns over prolonged deaths in previous lethal injections and the state’s secrecy surrounding its injection protocols.
South Carolina’s decision to reintroduce the firing squad came after the state legislature approved it as an alternative method due to difficulties in obtaining lethal injection drugs. The state spent $54,000 in 2022 to construct a firing squad area in its death chamber, demonstrating its commitment to maintaining capital punishment options.
Concerns Over Execution Methods
Sigmon’s lawyers have raised concerns about both lethal injection and the electric chair. They cited issues with previous lethal injections, including prolonged deaths and worries about the effects of pentobarbital. An autopsy of a previous execution showed unusual fluid in the lungs, suggesting a possible drowning sensation, although the state argues this is typical for such executions.
As Sigmon’s execution date approaches, his case continues to fuel discussions about the ethics of capital punishment, the effectiveness and humanity of various execution methods, and the role of state secrecy in carrying out these sentences. The outcome of this case may have far-reaching implications for the future of capital punishment in South Carolina and potentially across the United States.
