A man in South Carolina was executed by firing squad on Friday. Stephen Bryant, 44, was sentenced for killing three people over five days in 2004. His crimes included a brutal murder where he shot a man in his home and then painted a message on the wall with the victim’s blood.
Bryant chose the firing squad over lethal injection or the electric chair, and he did not make a final statement before his execution. After the shooting, he displayed no signs of distress, but a doctor later confirmed his death.
In his defense, Bryant’s lawyers argued that the judge failed to consider his severe brain damage, which stemmed from his mother’s substance abuse during pregnancy. However, the Supreme Court declined to hear his appeal in October.
His crimes were part of a terrifying period in Sumter County, where he also shot two other men. After years of halted executions in South Carolina due to drug shortages, the state resumed executions earlier this year, using the firing squad for the first time in many years. By now, three out of five executions this year were carried out with a firing squad.
Interestingly, the use of the death penalty is rising across the U.S. after a significant drop during the pandemic. According to the Death Penalty Information Center, 43 executions took place in 2025, and the trend suggests a resurgence in states seeking to carry out sentences.
A historical perspective shows that South Carolina had not executed anyone for 13 years because of issues with lethal injection drugs. Now, they have turned to the firing squad as a solution, making it a controversial choice during a time when many states are re-evaluating their execution methods.
Public opinion varies on the death penalty, with social media revealing strong emotions both for and against its use. Some see it as a necessary measure for justice, while others argue it’s an inhumane practice that should be abolished.
As the debate continues, experts from various fields encourage discussions around the ethical implications of capital punishment, its effectiveness as a deterrent, and the potential for wrongful convictions.
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South Carolina, Death Penalty, Firing Squad, Execution
