South Carolina Death Row Inmate Chooses Firing Squad for Execution

Brad Sigmon, 67, opts for firing squad over lethal injection or electric chair, citing concerns about prolonged suffering and inhumane methods.

Brad Sigmon, convicted of the 2001 murders of his ex-girlfriend's parents, is scheduled to be executed on March 7, becoming the first South Carolina inmate to choose a firing squad.
Sigmon's decision stems from concerns over the inhumane nature of recent executions in the state, including prolonged deaths by lethal injection and the painful effects of electrocution.
South Carolina legalized execution by firing squad in 2021 due to difficulties obtaining lethal injection drugs and has since renovated its execution chamber to accommodate this method.
Sigmon's attorneys argue his choice reflects the state's lack of transparency about lethal injection protocols and the risks of suffering associated with all available methods.
If carried out, Sigmon's execution would mark the first firing squad execution in the U.S. since 2010 and only the fourth nationwide since 1976.