On March 7, 2025, South Carolina carried out its first execution by firing squad in 15 years, administering the death penalty to 67-year-old Brad Sigmon. Sigmon had been convicted in 2002 for the brutal murders of his ex-girlfriend’s parents, David and Gladys Larke, in 2001.
Facing the choice between lethal injection, electrocution, and firing squad, Sigmon opted for the latter, expressing concerns about the potential pain associated with the other methods. His attorney, Bo King, conveyed Sigmon’s apprehensions, stating that Sigmon feared the electric chair might “burn and cook him alive,” and that lethal injection could result in a prolonged death. Despite his reluctance to inflict pain on his family, executioners, and witnesses, Sigmon viewed the firing squad as the least objectionable option under the circumstances.
The execution took place at the Broad River Correctional Institution in Columbia. Sigmon was strapped into a chair within a steel enclosure, a hood placed over his head, and a target positioned over his heart. Three executioners, standing 15 feet away, simultaneously fired their rifles at 6:05 p.m. Witnesses reported that Sigmon flexed his arms and heaved in the chair for a few seconds before falling motionless. He was pronounced dead at 6:08 p.m.
In his final statement, delivered by his attorney, Sigmon urged for the abolition of the death penalty, referencing biblical scriptures and emphasizing a transition from Old Testament retribution to New Testament teachings of mercy and grace. citeturn0news17
This execution marked the fourth instance of a firing squad being used in the United States since 1976, with the previous three occurring in Utah, the last in 2010. South Carolina’s decision to employ this method has reignited ethical debates and prompted protests, with opponents arguing that it constitutes cruel and unusual punishment. citeturn0news18
Sigmon’s case has drawn attention to the complexities surrounding capital punishment methods, particularly as states grapple with legal and ethical challenges in administering the death penalty.
