A death row inmate in South Carolina, Brad Sigmon, has decided to be executed by firing squad on March 7. This choice makes him just the fourth person in the U.S. to face this method of execution since 1976. Sigmon, 67, chose this option over lethal injection or the electric chair, citing concerns about the painful experiences of previous inmates executed in South Carolina.
Sigmon’s case is significant because he is the first inmate in South Carolina to opt for a firing squad. In the U.S., only three inmates have been executed this way, all of whom were in Utah. The last firing squad execution took place 15 years ago.
For his execution, Sigmon will be secured in a chair, wearing a hood. A target will be placed over his heart, and three shooters will be positioned about 15 feet away, ready to fire.
Earlier this month, Sigmon’s lawyers requested to postpone his execution to gather information about the execution of another inmate, Marion Bowman. They questioned whether Bowman had received two doses of the sedative used during his execution. It’s unclear if they have received the autopsy report related to Bowman’s case, which could provide more context about the drug used.
Sigmon was convicted of a violent crime in 2001 where he fatally beat his ex-girlfriend’s parents with a baseball bat in Greenville County. After the murders, he attempted to kidnap his ex-girlfriend at gunpoint, but she escaped.
His legal team is making a final appeal to the state Supreme Court, arguing that the trial lawyers failed to effectively represent him. They claim the lawyers did not adequately address his mental health issues or his troubled upbringing during the trial.
If this last appeal does not succeed, Sigmon may petition Republican Governor Henry McMaster for clemency to avoid execution. However, since the death penalty was reinstated in South Carolina nearly 50 years ago, no governor has granted clemency.
The South Carolina Legislature approved the firing squad as an option due to difficulties in obtaining lethal injection drugs, which became problematic because pharmaceutical companies were hesitant to sell them for use in executions.
Witnesses to the recent lethal injections reported that inmates took an extended time to be pronounced dead, which raised Sigmon’s concerns about choosing that method. His attorney noted Sigmon feared lethal injection could lead to a slow and painful death, while the electric chair was considered too barbaric.
In speaking about his decision, Sigmon’s attorney said he fully understands the violence of being shot, but given the circumstances, it felt like the most reasonable choice among terrible options. Sigmon’s decision reflects a desperate attempt to regain some control over how he meets his end.
South Carolina has a long history with the death penalty, having executed 46 inmates since its revival in the 1970s, positioning it among the states with the highest execution rates in the country.
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