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

On a somber Friday evening, Brad Sigmon, a 67-year-old inmate on death row, met his end at the Broad River Correctional Institution in South Carolina, executed by a firing squad. This execution marks the first of its kind in the United States in 15 years. Sigmon had been convicted of the brutal murder of his ex-girlfriend's parents using a baseball bat in 2001.

Execution Method and Circumstances

As reported by the Associated Press, the execution was carried out by three volunteer prison employees who were positioned 15 feet away from Sigmon. The condemned man, blindfolded and strapped to a chair with a target affixed to his chest, was shot in the heart by the executioners, all of whom fired simultaneously through openings in a wall. A dozen witnesses observed the execution from a room separated from the chamber by bullet-resistant glass, while the executioners themselves remained hidden from view.

Firing Squad Execution's Historical Context

The use of firing squads for executions has been largely phased out in recent years, with South Carolina being one of the few states still employing this method. According to the Death Penalty Information Center, this year's count includes five executions, with Sigmon's firing squad execution being the most notable.

Legal and Administrative Approval

In the hours leading up to the execution, the U.S. Supreme Court dismissed an emergency motion to suspend the execution, leaving no avenues for legal appeal open to Sigmon. Furthermore, South Carolina's Governor, Henry McMaster, and Attorney General, Alan Wilson, endorsed the execution, ensuring that all legal and administrative protocols had been duly followed.

The execution of Brad Sigmon signifies the resumption of executions in South Carolina, which had seen a 13-year hiatus in carrying out the death penalty. The state, once among the most active in carrying out executions, has now recommenced its practices in a determined manner.