South Carolina Unveils Controversial Plan for Rare Firing Squad Execution: What You Need to Know

South Carolina is preparing for its first execution by firing squad in recent history. This method hasn’t been used in the United States for 15 years.

The scheduled execution is for Brad Sigmon, 67, who was convicted of killing his ex-girlfriend’s parents in 2001. He is set to die on March 7 at the Broad River Correctional Institution in Columbia.

So, why is this important? In 2021, South Carolina brought back the firing squad as an execution option after struggling to find lethal injection drugs. In 2024, the state’s Supreme Court confirmed that this method is a legal way to carry out the death penalty, stating it does not violate the U.S. Constitution’s ban on cruel and unusual punishment.

This execution will be the first in South Carolina since 2011. Details about the process will remain secret, including the identities of those executing the death sentence.

Brad Sigmon was sentenced to death for brutally murdering his ex-girlfriend’s parents in their Greenville County home. He attacked them with a baseball bat and then kidnapped his ex-girlfriend at gunpoint, although she managed to escape. Sigmon allegedly confessed, saying, “I couldn’t have her. I wasn’t going to let anybody else have her.”

Under state law, inmates must choose between lethal injection, electrocution, or firing squad. Sigmon chose the firing squad, as his lawyers argued that lethal injection might be painful, making the choice very difficult for him.

The execution will take place in a chamber near where death row inmates are kept. Shortly before the execution, Sigmon will be moved to a cell closer to the death chamber.

At around 6 p.m., the warden will call the governor to ask if he will grant clemency. If the answer is no, Sigmon will enter the execution chamber. There, he will be strapped into a chair, positioned to face the witnesses. A hood will be placed over his head, and a target will be placed over his heart.

Three state corrections volunteers will stand 15 feet away with rifles. They will fire from behind a wall that the witnesses cannot see. A doctor will then check to confirm that Sigmon is dead before witnesses leave after signing an official document.

Very little is known about the individuals operating the rifles, although they have completed all required training. The state plans to use special ammunition designed to disrupt vital organs upon impact.

If the shooters miss their target, there’s no information on what would happen next. The execution team could be called to fire again if necessary.

Sigmon’s attorney, Gerald “Bo” King, expressed concerns about the secrecy surrounding the lethal injection drugs, arguing that Sigmon chose the firing squad to avoid a potentially torturous death. On the other side, Ricky Sims, grandson of the victims, stated that Sigmon will finally face accountability for his actions, emphasizing the loss his family suffered.

As of now, Sigmon’s lawyers have asked the South Carolina Supreme Court to delay the execution due to concerns about the secrecy laws. However, unless legal action steps in, the execution is likely to proceed as planned.

South Carolina is one of just five states that permit execution by firing squad, alongside Idaho, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Utah. If executed, Sigmon will be only the fourth person to face death by firing squad in the U.S. since 1977.