Execution by Firing Squad Marks First in 15 Years in the U.S.

In a significant and controversial event, a 67-year-old inmate, Brad Sigmon, was executed by a firing squad in South Carolina, marking the first occurrence of this execution method in the United States in 15 years. The execution took place at 6:05 PM local time, with three volunteers carrying out the shooting. The inmate was declared dead just three minutes later, according to official reports.

Sigmon, who was convicted of brutal murders, had chosen this method over lethal injection, citing concerns about the potential for suffering during the latter procedure. His attorney revealed that Sigmon feared a prolonged and painful death if subjected to lethal injection, which led to his decision to opt for the firing squad.

In 2001, Sigmon was convicted for the murder of his ex-girlfriend's parents, whom he killed with a baseball bat in their home. Reports indicate that he moved between rooms, attacking them until they were dead. Additionally, Sigmon attempted to kidnap his ex-girlfriend with the intention of murdering her as well, but she managed to escape. In a chilling admission, he expressed that he could not possess her and did not want anyone else to have her.

Efforts by Sigmon's legal team to halt the execution were unsuccessful, as the U.S. Supreme Court declined to intervene just hours before the scheduled execution. The governor of South Carolina also refused to intervene.

Witnesses reported that Sigmon was secured to a chair in the execution chamber, wearing a black hood over his head. The three members of the firing squad shot through slits in the wall, and family members of the victims, along with media representatives, were present to observe the proceedings. In his final statement, Sigmon reportedly called for the abolition of the death penalty.

South Carolina reinstated the option of execution by firing squad in 2021, but until now, had not executed anyone using this method. Historically, this form of execution has been employed when lethal injection drugs were unavailable, and it remains one of the execution methods alongside the electric chair in the state.

Currently, five states in the U.S. allow executions by firing squad, including Idaho, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Utah, with the last execution by this method occurring in Utah in 2010. This year alone, there are still 13 additional executions planned, highlighting the ongoing debates surrounding capital punishment in the United States.