South Carolina Executes Stephen Bryant by Firing Squad

Sun Nov 16 2025 09:46:18 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Stephen Bryant, a man convicted of killing three people in South Carolina, was executed by firing squad on Friday. This marks the third execution in the state this year as debates over death penalty methods continue.

South Carolina has executed Stephen Bryant, a 44-year-old man convicted of three murders, using a firing squad. This method has seen renewed use in the state after a long hiatus in executions, predominantly due to difficulties in obtaining lethal injection drugs. As the debate over the efficacy and humanity of various execution methods rages, Bryant's death adds to the ongoing discussion surrounding capital punishment in the U.S.

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Friday marked the execution of Stephen Bryant, a 44-year-old man sentenced to death for the murders of three individuals in South Carolina in 2004. This execution took place via firing squad, making Bryant the third individual to face this method in the state this year.

Three prison staff members volunteered to execute Bryant, who was pronounced dead at 6:05 p.m. He opted for the firing squad rather than lethal injection or the electric chair, but did not make a final statement before the execution.

Witnesses reported that after the shots were fired, a pool of blood formed on Bryant’s chest. Family members of the victims were present during the execution and held hands.

The execution represents the seventh death following a 13-year pause in South Carolina, which struggled to obtain lethal injection drugs necessary for executions. Governor Henry McMaster denied clemency to Bryant, continuing a long-standing trend in the state since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976.

Final Meal and Background

For his last meal, Bryant requested a hearty mix of dishes including spicy seafood stir-fry, fried fish with rice, egg rolls, stuffed shrimp, candy bars, and German chocolate cake. His lawyer, Bo King, highlighted Bryant's troubled past, including a genetic disorder, childhood abuse, and the effects of parental neglect.

King emphasized that Bryant’s life experiences contributed to his actions but asserted that each of the recent executions in the state have been brutal and served to neither improve safety nor justice.

History of the Firing Squad

The firing squad has a controversial history as a method of execution. While deemed by some legislators as the fastest approach, it has been overshadowed by the problems associated with lethal injection, particularly botched executions. South Carolina's reinstatement of the firing squad signifies a shift in the approach to capital punishment, as the state and others grapple with logistics surrounding execution drugs.

The specifics of firing squad executions entail the condemned being strapped into a chair with a target placed over their heart before being shot by a team of trained individuals, all while witnesses observe from behind protective glass.

As discussions continue regarding the moral implications of the death penalty and the methods employed, Bryant's execution underscores the complexities surrounding capital punishment in America.