News Summary
Brad Sigmon, a 67-year-old inmate on death row, was executed by firing squad in South Carolina, marking the first use of this execution method in 15 years. Sigmon, convicted in 2001 for the brutal murders of his ex-girlfriend’s parents, had selected this method, expressing fears about lethal injection and electric chair. Despite requests for clemency and concerns over execution protocols, his execution proceeded as planned with witnesses present. This marks a significant moment in the ongoing debate surrounding capital punishment and execution methods in the U.S.
South Carolina executed Brad Sigmon, a 67-year-old man, by firing squad on March 7, 2025. This marked the first execution by firing squad in the United States in 15 years. Sigmon had been on death row for the brutal killing of his ex-girlfriend’s parents, Gladys and David Larke, in 2001.
The execution took place at 6:08 p.m. at the Broad River Correctional Institution in Columbia, South Carolina. Sigmon was shot by three volunteer prison employees, who fired simultaneously at 6:05 p.m. He was blindfolded and strapped to a chair, with a target placed on his chest as the executioners used rifles fired from approximately 15 feet away through specially designed openings in a wall. A dozen witnesses, including family members of the victims, legal representatives, and members of the media, were present but were separated from the execution by bullet-resistant glass.
Hours before the execution, the United States Supreme Court denied an emergency motion that sought to suspend the execution based on concerns surrounding South Carolina’s lethal injection protocols. Additionally, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster denied clemency to Sigmon despite pleas from his legal team, who highlighted his good behavior while incarcerated and reported mental health struggles.
Sigmon opted for the firing squad as his method of execution, expressing fears about other execution methods, such as lethal injection and the electric chair. The decision to select the firing squad aligns with the legal provisions in South Carolina, which is one of only five states in the U.S. to permit this method of execution. The state has resumed carrying out executions after a 13-year hiatus, with Sigmon being the 46th inmate executed since the death penalty’s reinstatement there.
Before his execution, Sigmon’s final meal consisted of four pieces of fried chicken, green beans, mashed potatoes with gravy, biscuits, cheesecake, and sweet tea. In his last statement, Sigmon criticized the death penalty, calling for its abolition and referencing biblical texts in his appeal.
Sigmon was convicted in 2001 for the murders of Gladys, 59, and David Larke, 62. He admitted to killing the couple, claiming his initial intention was also to kill his ex-girlfriend after they refused to reconcile with him. The brutality of the crime shocked the community and has made the case a notable part of South Carolina’s legal landscape.
The execution process, particularly of this nature, aims to deliver a quick and humane death, with the intention of causing immediate loss of consciousness and minimal pain through severe damage to the heart. Following Sigmon’s execution, South Carolina continues its use of both firing squads and lethal injections amidst ongoing discussions about the ethical implications of capital punishment.
Sigmon’s execution is indicative of the state’s position on the death penalty and reflects a broader national conversation regarding methods of execution, the morality of capital punishment, and the legal framework surrounding it. South Carolina’s recent resumption of executions signifies a complex and often contentious aspect of the state’s criminal justice system.
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