A convicted double murderer, Brad Sigmon, 67, was executed by firing squad in South Carolina on Friday—the first such execution in the U.S. since 2010, according to the South Carolina Department of Corrections. It was only the fourth firing squad execution since capital punishment was reinstated in 1976.
Sigmon, convicted of the 2001 bludgeoning deaths of his ex-girlfriend’s parents, chose the firing squad over lethal injection or the electric chair. He was pronounced dead at 6:08 p.m. ET.
In a final statement, Sigmon urged Christians to help end the death penalty, quoting Bible passages on forgiveness. His attorney, Gerald “Bo” King, called the execution “horrifying and violent,” arguing that Sigmon had reformed during his 23 years in prison.
King also criticized the state for withholding information about lethal injection drugs, saying Sigmon only sought assurances they were not expired or unsafe.
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster denied Sigmon’s request for clemency, and the U.S. Supreme Court declined to halt the execution.
How Firing Squad Executions Work
Sigmon was executed at Broad River Correctional Institution in Columbia, South Carolina. He had a final meal from KFC, including mashed potatoes and green beans.
According to state protocols, three executioners fired large-caliber bullets at Sigmon’s heart. Experts say this method causes nearly instant unconsciousness and death.
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