In Columbia, South Carolina, inmate Brad Sigmon has decided to face execution by firing squad next month, a method not seen in the U.S. for 15 years. This marks a significant moment, as Sigmon is set to die on March 7, making him the first South Carolina inmate to opt for this method over lethal injection or the electric chair.
Brad Sigmon, 67, was convicted for the brutal 2001 murders of his ex-girlfriend’s parents. He attacked them with a baseball bat in their home in Greenville County. After committing the crimes, Sigmon tried to kidnap his ex-girlfriend at gunpoint, but she managed to escape. He later confessed that he couldn’t bear the thought of anyone else being with her.
The firing squad execution will involve Sigmon being strapped to a chair, with a hood over his head and a target on his heart. Three volunteers will shoot from about 15 feet away. This choice comes after concerns about the lethal injection process in South Carolina, where recent executions have raised issues of prolonged suffering. Sigmon’s lawyer pointed out that previous inmates had significant delays in being declared dead, prompting fears of a similar fate.
Sigmon’s lawyers recently sought a delay for his execution. They wanted to investigate the circumstances surrounding the last execution in South Carolina, specifically whether the inmate, Marion Bowman, received two doses of the drug used for lethal injection, which could influence the outcome of Sigmon’s own execution. However, the court denied this request.
Sigmon rejected the electric chair, believing it would cause a horrific death. His lawyer emphasized that the uncertainty surrounding lethal injection protocols contributed to Sigmon’s choice of the firing squad—a decision he feels is better given the current climate of secrecy regarding executions in South Carolina.
Sigmon has consistently taken responsibility for his actions and has shown remorse. His attorneys argue that he has become a model prisoner and is working daily to atone for his past. They contend that his execution would send a troubling message about the possibility of redemption for those who have committed serious crimes.
He remains the longest-serving inmate on death row among the 46 executed in South Carolina since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976. His case could still see a last-minute appeal to the state Supreme Court or a plea for clemency from Governor Henry McMaster, although history shows that no South Carolina governor has granted clemency in nearly five decades.
In 2022, South Carolina allocated funds to create a firing squad area in its death chamber, responding to difficulties in obtaining lethal injection drugs due to supplier restrictions. Though a privacy law has since been enacted, the firing squad remains part of the state’s execution protocols.
Sigmon’s decision against lethal injection stems from the troubling outcomes of recent executions. Witnesses reported distressing details about the last three executions, including the time taken for inmates to be declared deceased. His lawyers have raised concerns about these methods, citing autopsy reports indicating possible complications that may have caused suffering during the execution process.
