Sigmon, 67, was executed for the brutal murders of his ex-girlfriend's parents, marking a controversial return of the firing squad as a method of execution.
First US Firing Squad Execution in 15 Years: South Carolina Inmate Executed for Double Murder
First US Firing Squad Execution in 15 Years: South Carolina Inmate Executed for Double Murder
Brad Sigmon's death raises questions about the morality and effectiveness of capital punishment.
South Carolina has made headlines as Brad Sigmon, a 67-year-old inmate convicted of the gruesome double murder of his ex-girlfriend's parents, became the first person in the United States to be executed by firing squad in 15 years. Sigmon's execution occurred at 6:00 PM local time on Friday, with three volunteers firing specially designed bullets aimed at his chest.
Sigmon was found guilty in 2001 of beating David and Gladys Larke to death with a baseball bat, followed by an attempted kidnapping of his ex-girlfriend, who narrowly escaped as he fired a gun in her direction. Sigmon had opted for death by firing squad over the other state-sanctioned execution methods, including lethal injection and the electric chair. According to Chrysti Shain from the South Carolina Department of Corrections, he was pronounced dead at 6:08 PM.
Witnesses, including three members of the Larke family, observed the scene. Prior to his death, Sigmon expressed his desire for his final statement to reflect love and remorse, quoting the Bible and criticizing the use of the death penalty. As he was strapped into the execution chair, a hood was placed over his head, and a target was affixed to his chest. The volunteers then opened fire simultaneously from a distance of about 15 feet, resulting in visible reactions from Sigmon’s body as he fell silent moments later.
Reporters present noted that a doctor confirmed Sigmon's death shortly after the execution, while some accounts detailed the grim aftermath, including blood splatters and the emotional weight of the event. Sigmon's attorney expressed disappointment at the failure to secure a last-minute stay of execution, highlighting his client's mental health struggles and suggesting that he had found rehabilitation in prison.
Interestingly, Sigmon's final meal request was an act of camaraderie; he requested three buckets of original recipe Kentucky Fried Chicken to share with fellow inmates on death row. Since the reinstatement of the death penalty in 1977, only three individuals have been executed by firing squad—an uncommon method that evokes strong ethical debates, especially pertaining to human suffering and state-sanctioned death.
As news of Sigmon’s execution circulated, protests erupted outside the Columbia prison, with activists wielding signs advocating for the sanctity of life. The bullets used in the execution were specifically designed to inflict maximum damage, fueling discussions among medical experts regarding the humane aspects of such capital punishment methods. South Carolina's revised laws from 2023 require secrecy surrounding the identities of execution teams, further complicating the public's understanding of the death penalty's implementation.
Sigmon was found guilty in 2001 of beating David and Gladys Larke to death with a baseball bat, followed by an attempted kidnapping of his ex-girlfriend, who narrowly escaped as he fired a gun in her direction. Sigmon had opted for death by firing squad over the other state-sanctioned execution methods, including lethal injection and the electric chair. According to Chrysti Shain from the South Carolina Department of Corrections, he was pronounced dead at 6:08 PM.
Witnesses, including three members of the Larke family, observed the scene. Prior to his death, Sigmon expressed his desire for his final statement to reflect love and remorse, quoting the Bible and criticizing the use of the death penalty. As he was strapped into the execution chair, a hood was placed over his head, and a target was affixed to his chest. The volunteers then opened fire simultaneously from a distance of about 15 feet, resulting in visible reactions from Sigmon’s body as he fell silent moments later.
Reporters present noted that a doctor confirmed Sigmon's death shortly after the execution, while some accounts detailed the grim aftermath, including blood splatters and the emotional weight of the event. Sigmon's attorney expressed disappointment at the failure to secure a last-minute stay of execution, highlighting his client's mental health struggles and suggesting that he had found rehabilitation in prison.
Interestingly, Sigmon's final meal request was an act of camaraderie; he requested three buckets of original recipe Kentucky Fried Chicken to share with fellow inmates on death row. Since the reinstatement of the death penalty in 1977, only three individuals have been executed by firing squad—an uncommon method that evokes strong ethical debates, especially pertaining to human suffering and state-sanctioned death.
As news of Sigmon’s execution circulated, protests erupted outside the Columbia prison, with activists wielding signs advocating for the sanctity of life. The bullets used in the execution were specifically designed to inflict maximum damage, fueling discussions among medical experts regarding the humane aspects of such capital punishment methods. South Carolina's revised laws from 2023 require secrecy surrounding the identities of execution teams, further complicating the public's understanding of the death penalty's implementation.
