Brad Sigmon, a South Carolina man convicted in a double murder in 2002, died on Friday by firing squad, a method never before used by the state. Sigmon was the oldest inmate executed by South Carolina at the age of 67. Media witnesses described the execution, saying that Sigmon was strapped into a chair and shot by a three-person squad using .308 Winchester rifles.
Before his death, Sigmon issued a final statement calling for an end to the death penalty. Despite efforts to halt his execution due to mental illness and childhood trauma, Sigmon’s clemency request was denied by the governor and the U.S. Supreme Court denied a stay of execution.
The firing squad method was introduced in South Carolina due to concerns about previous lethal injection executions. The state’s shield law allows officials to withhold information on where the drugs are sourced. Lawmakers debated the ethics of using the firing squad, with some arguing it was a less barbaric option compared to other methods.
Witnesses to previous firing squad executions described the process as quick and possibly more humane than other methods. Sigmon was convicted of beating his ex-girlfriend’s parents to death, using a baseball bat in the attack. Despite claims of ineffective legal counsel and mental illness, the South Carolina Supreme Court rejected appeals to stop his execution.
The use of the firing squad method, while rare, hearkens back to earlier periods in American history when it was more common. Experts argue that it remains one of the less inhumane options for execution.
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.
