This execution method was previously banned in the United States for over 15 years. However, only in March of this year, Brad Sigmon, convicted of killing his ex-girlfriend’s parents, became the first death row execution by this gory method.
Previously, it was ruled that the convicted South Carolina murderer would die via lethal injection. His execution was supposed to take place in February 2021 for his 2002 sentencing after he had fatally bludgeoned David and Gladys Larke.
However, there were some complications in the process that ultimately changed his execution date and method. On March 7, Sigmon, 67 at the time, was put to death by firing the execution squad. This method was previously banned in many U.S. states and was deemed controversial for many reasons.
There was a time when the firing squad was believed to be a quick and effective execution method, as federal officials argued. However, by the time the late 90s/early 00s, this method was banned in most of the states with death penalties.
Of course, with the prohibition, lethal injection became the most used method for death row execution. Many lawmakers also argued that it was way more humane than a firing squad. However, a real crisis began emerging around this time, which led to authorities scratching their heads over finding the best execution method.
In 2021, when Sigmon’s execution date was set, a nationwide crisis over the shortage of drugs emerged. It created impossible challenges for the use of lethal injection execution. The crisis was triggered by many reasons, including prisons hoarding massive stashs of expired supplies and pharmaceutical firms refusing to dispense more, as protests against capital punishment took over the nation.
South Carolina Supreme Court rules firing squad and other execution methods are legal.
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CNN reported about another ethical debate that argued that lethal injection is not always a successful method. The arguments referred to the case of Clayton Lockett. Lockett, who was convicted of abduction, r–e, and m—-r, was put to death via lethal injection. However, it took at least 43 minutes for his life to end after authorities experimented with a series of untested drugs.
USA Today reported that the inmate suffered, writhed, and grazed throughout the whole time, and the incident made headlines back then, drawing not only national but also international attention.
As the issues with lethal injection surfaced, interest grew surrounding other execution methods. Among them was the firing squad, primarily a military method that was previously banned for the death penalty.
Despite controversies, the method returned in a number of states across the United States. Sigmon was the first death row inmate to be put to death by firing squad after many years, and South Carolina became the trailblazer state.
South Carolina has carried out the execution of Brad Sigmon by firing squad for the murders of his ex-girlfriend’s parents.
Strapped to a metal chair, he had a target placed over his heart and a hood over his head.
A three-person rifle squad, positioned behind a wall, took aim… pic.twitter.com/OC4Dpqj468
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In March, Sigmon was sat in a chair in the courtyard of the state’s Broad River Correctional Institution. A basin was placed underneath his body to hold the blood. The target was placed on his chest while a hood covered his face. Many prison employees volunteered to be on the firing squad for him, while a group of lawyers, victims’ families, and even religious counselors witnessed his end.
AP News Journalist Jeffrey Collins recalled that his death came with “no warning or countdown.” “At this point, his arm tended up when he got shot. There was kind of this brief moment of tensing,” Collins noted.
