South Carolina Executes Brad Sigmon by Firing Squad
In a historic first for the state, South Carolina executed Brad Keith Sigmon by firing squad on March 7, 2025. Sigmon, who had been on death row since 2001 for the murder of a convenience store clerk, was pronounced dead at 10:17 a.m. at the Broad River Correctional Institution in Columbia. This execution marks the first time South Carolina has used a firing squad since the method was authorized as an alternative to lethal injection in 2021.
The execution has reignited debates over capital punishment and the use of firing squads. Advocates argue that firing squads are a more humane and reliable method compared to lethal injections, which have faced numerous challenges due to drug availability and botched executions. Critics, however, contend that the method is archaic and brutal, questioning the ethics of state-sanctioned killings.
The Sigmon case has drawn national attention, with various groups, including human rights organizations and religious leaders, calling for a reevaluation of the death penalty in the United States. The execution has also prompted discussions on the broader implications of capital punishment, including its deterrent effect and racial disparities in sentencing.
Detailed South Carolina executes Brad Sigmon by firing squad
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Does South Carolina have Death by Firing Squad?
In 2021, South Carolina passed a law allowing execution by firing squad in the state but named the electric chair the state's primary means of execution.
What state has a firing squad for execution?
Since 1977, there have been four executions by firing squad, three in Utah and one in South Carolina. Historical data suggests that more than 140 American inmates have been executed by shooting since 1608, though it is not clear how many involved firing squads. Of those, 40 were in Utah, more than any other state.
How is the firing squad carried out in South Carolina?
The gurney used to carry out lethal injections had been rolled away.The volunteers all fired at the same time through openings in a wall. They were not visible to about a dozen witnesses in a room separated from the chamber by bullet-resistant glass.When the shots were fired, the target was blasted off Sigmon's chest.
Is firing squad legal?
A few details came out in court in 2022 during an unrelated trial that ultimately led the state Supreme Court to rule the firing squad, electric chair and lethal injection were all legal and didn't violate the U.S. Constitution's ban on cruel and unusual punishment.
