Richard Moore Executed in South Carolina

Richard Moore was executed by lethal injection in South Carolina on Friday for the 1999 murder of convenience store clerk James Mahoney, marking the state's resumption of executions after a 13-year hiatus. Moore's execution followed unsuccessful clemency appeals to Governor Henry McMaster, despite support from jurors, family, and former officials who argued he had rehabilitated during his time in prison. His case has drawn attention for its racial and legal controversies, including the striking of Black jurors during his trial and claims that had the crime occurred today, the death penalty would likely not have been sought. Moore's family described him as a transformed man, emphasizing that he was unarmed during the incident that led to Mahoney's death. There have been no clemency grants in South Carolina since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976, and as of now, 30 inmates remain on death row. Moore's execution highlights ongoing debates about the fairness and application of capital punishment in the state.