South Carolina – Reviving a practice long dormant in the United States, South Carolina is poised to carry out the first execution in the country by firing squad in almost 15 years. Brad Sigmon, 67-year-old, will be executed at Broad River Correctional Institution on March 7, 2025; this is the first firing squad execution in the state’s history.
Sigmon has run out all legal options after he was found guilty in 2002 for the brutal murders of the parents of his ex-girlfriend. Following years of delays resulting from South Carolina’s inability to get lethal injection drugs, he has decided to use the firing squad instead of electrocution, the state’s default approach in situations when lethal injection is unavailable.
His choice has sparked a national discussion on the morality of the capital punishment, its morality, and the methods used to carry it out.
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A crime that shook South Carolina
Armed with a baseball bat, Sigmon broke into David and Gladys Larke’s Taylors, South Carolina home on April 27, 2001. Before attempting to kidnap the old couple’s daughter, Rebecca Barbare, his former girlfriend, he bludgeoned them dead. Barbare escaped, and following a multi-state manhunt Sigmon was apprehended in Tennessee.
During his trial, the defense argued that Sigmon suffered from severe mental illness and a troubled upbringing marked by physical abuse and substance addiction. But the jury found him guilty of two charges of murder and one count of first-degree burglary, sentencing him to death.
Despite the multiple appeals during the years, his conviction was upheld; the South Carolina Supreme Court confirmed his sentence in 2005. Originally set for February 2021, his execution was postponed indefinitely as the state was unable to get lethal injection drugs.
A return to firing squads
South Carolina’s death penalty law was amended in 2021 to allow firing squad executions, making it one of only four states in the country where the method is legal. The reform followed pharmaceutical corporations’ refusal to provide the medications required for lethal injections, therefore depriving the state of its ability to carry out executions for over a decade.
Should lethal injection not be available, prisoners under the updated law can choose between electrocution and firing squad. The firing squad procedure involves strapping the condemned prisoner to a chair, placing a hood over their head, and marking a target over their heart.
A team of three executioners will fire rifles from 15 feet away, with all using live ammunition—differing from some states where one gun is loaded with blanks to ease the psychological burden on shooters.
The state paid about $53,600 modifying its execution chamber to fit the firing squad technique, building a bulletproof wall and seating for witnesses.
Controversy surrounding the execution
Sigmon’s choice of execution method has reignited discussions about the ethics of capital punishment. Supporters of the firing squad argue that it is a quick and effective method that minimizes suffering compared to botched lethal injections or electrocution. Critics, however, call it a barbaric throwback to a darker era of American justice.
Legal challenges have questioned whether South Carolina’s execution methods violate the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment. However, in July 2024, the South Carolina Supreme Court ruled that all three execution methods—lethal injection, electrocution, and firing squad—are constitutional.
Public opinion on the firing squad remains divided. A recent poll suggests that while many Americans support the death penalty in principle, fewer than 10% consider the firing squad to be the most humane execution method.
Some argue that its revival reflects a broader struggle in the U.S. justice system to sustain capital punishment amid increasing legal and logistical hurdles.
Final days and reactions
As his execution date nears, Sigmon has reportedly spent time in prayer and with his family, expressing remorse for his crimes. His attorney, Gerald “Bo” King, has stated that while Sigmon does not wish to die, he chose the firing squad as “the least torturous way to go,” particularly in light of recent reports of botched lethal injections.
The families of his victims have remained silent in the public, though court records indicate they have long awaited justice. Advocacy groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), have condemned the execution, calling for a halt to the practice of capital punishment altogether.
Meanwhile, the state government has stood firm in its commitment to resuming executions after a years-long pause. Governor Henry McMaster has previously stated that the changes to South Carolina’s death penalty laws were necessary to ensure that justice is carried out.
Looking ahead
Sigmon’s execution will mark only the fourth time a firing squad has been used in the U.S. since 1976, following three cases in Utah, the most recent being Ronnie Lee Gardner in 2010. It may also set a precedent for other states grappling with similar challenges in obtaining lethal injection drugs.
With 35 inmates currently on death row in South Carolina, and other states considering similar execution methods, the nation may see a shift in how capital punishment is carried out.
For now, all eyes are on Columbia, where, on March 7, history will be made once again.
