Richard Moore Executed for 1999 Murder

Richard Moore, a 59-year-old Black man, was executed in South Carolina after the governor denied his clemency request despite significant appeals for mercy. Convicted of murdering convenience store clerk James Mahoney in 1999, Moore claimed the shooting was an act of self-defense during an altercation over insufficient funds for a purchase. His defense argued that Moore was unarmed at the time and that his death sentence was racially motivated, as he was tried by an all-white jury and had a clean prison record. More than 50,000 people signed a petition advocating for his clemency, including former prison officials, jurors, and the trial judge, who described his case as unique. Moore's execution marks the 21st this year in the U.S., highlighting ongoing debates about the death penalty and racial discrimination within the justice system. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to intervene, resulting in Moore's lethal injection on November 1, 2024.