SC Inmate to Face Firing Squad March 7

Brad Sigmon, a South Carolina death row inmate convicted for the 2001 murder of his ex-girlfriend’s parents, has chosen to be executed by firing squad, marking the first use of this method in the state since its legalization in 2024. Scheduled for March 7, this will be the first firing squad execution in the U.S. in 15 years since 2010 in Utah. Sigmon's decision was influenced by concerns over the state's lethal injection protocol, which has reportedly caused prolonged deaths, and the electric chair, which he fears would 'burn and cook him alive'. His lawyers have cited a lack of transparency regarding the execution drugs as a reason for his choice, arguing the state has not provided sufficient information to ensure a less torturous death. Despite legal efforts to delay the execution, the South Carolina Supreme Court denied a stay, leaving Sigmon to face what his attorneys describe as a 'monstrous' decision. The execution will involve Sigmon being hooded and strapped to a chair, with three executioners firing from 15 feet away.