South Carolina executes a double murderer by firing squad, the first in 15 years, after he rejected other methods.
South Carolina executes a double murderer by firing squad, the first in 15 years, after he rejected other methods.
Firing Squad Executes Double Murderer in South Carolina After 15 Years
Three volunteer gunmen shot Brad Sigmon with special bullets, aiming for his heart. The execution happened Friday evening at a corrections facility.
Sigmon, 67, was executed in South Carolina for murdering David and Gladys Larke in 2001 with a baseball bat. He sat strapped to a chair, hooded, as per state protocol, after being on death row for 23 years.
A target indicated where the gunmen should aim. They stood 15 feet away, behind a curtain, while spectators watched the execution.
Sigmon beat his ex-girlfriend’s parents to death with a baseball bat in their home, choosing firing squad over other options. His lawyer said transparency was the reason, believing other methods seemed too painful and worrying about a lack of information.
Sigmon tried to stop his execution, asking the Supreme Court on Wednesday, arguing that South Carolina hid injection details, violating his rights. His lawyer said lethal injections take time, as previous executions took about 20 minutes. Sigmon faced hard choices: bullets versus a drawn-out injection.
The lawyer said the electric chair scared Sigmon, fearing he would be burned alive. The murders occurred in April 2001, after a breakup.
He and Rebecca lived in a trailer park near her parents’ home. After using drugs, he planned violence, wanting to hurt Rebecca. Rebecca went to take her kids to school, and Sigmon went to her parents’ house with a baseball bat and hit them repeatedly.
David’s skull was badly broken. Sigmon stole David’s gun and waited for Rebecca to return, forcing her into a car. She escaped and ran.
Sigmon shot at her as she fled, then ran from the state and was caught in Tennessee. He confessed to the police, planning to kill Rebecca and himself because he did not want anyone else to have her.
Firing squads are rare in the US. Only three convicts have faced firing squads since 1976, all in Utah. Rebecca does not believe in the death penalty, but thinks Sigmon should pay.
The last man executed by firing squad was Ronnie Lee Gardner. His brother thinks the method is barbaric, having seen the autopsy photos. Randy said the body was mutilated and feels it is revenge.
Most South Carolina executions are by electrocution, with the three most recent using lethal injection. States struggle to get injection drugs, as the EU bans drug sales for executions, and executioners struggle to find a vein at times.
Autopsies showed convicts suffered and felt like they were drowning during injections. The Justice Department stopped using injections, and only five states still have this method.
Three recent executions in South Carolina used lethal injection, raising questions as each man took around 20 minutes to die. A 2023 law restricts execution details, keeping team member identities secret and how the state buys drugs hidden.
Drug companies refuse to sell drugs. The ACLU sued the state in January, opposing the secrecy. They say it silences experts, including scientists, journalists, and lawyers. South Carolina released only one autopsy, which showed fluid in lungs.
Three volunteer gunmen shot Brad Sigmon with special bullets, aiming for his heart. The execution happened Friday evening at a corrections facility.
Sigmon, 67, was executed in South Carolina for murdering David and Gladys Larke in 2001 with a baseball bat. He sat strapped to a chair, hooded, as per state protocol, after being on death row for 23 years.
A target indicated where the gunmen should aim. They stood 15 feet away, behind a curtain, while spectators watched the execution.
Sigmon beat his ex-girlfriend’s parents to death with a baseball bat in their home, choosing firing squad over other options. His lawyer said transparency was the reason, believing other methods seemed too painful and worrying about a lack of information.
Sigmon tried to stop his execution, asking the Supreme Court on Wednesday, arguing that South Carolina hid injection details, violating his rights. His lawyer said lethal injections take time, as previous executions took about 20 minutes. Sigmon faced hard choices: bullets versus a drawn-out injection.
The lawyer said the electric chair scared Sigmon, fearing he would be burned alive. The murders occurred in April 2001, after a breakup.
He and Rebecca lived in a trailer park near her parents’ home. After using drugs, he planned violence, wanting to hurt Rebecca. Rebecca went to take her kids to school, and Sigmon went to her parents’ house with a baseball bat and hit them repeatedly.
David’s skull was badly broken. Sigmon stole David’s gun and waited for Rebecca to return, forcing her into a car. She escaped and ran.
Sigmon shot at her as she fled, then ran from the state and was caught in Tennessee. He confessed to the police, planning to kill Rebecca and himself because he did not want anyone else to have her.
Firing squads are rare in the US. Only three convicts have faced firing squads since 1976, all in Utah. Rebecca does not believe in the death penalty, but thinks Sigmon should pay.
The last man executed by firing squad was Ronnie Lee Gardner. His brother thinks the method is barbaric, having seen the autopsy photos. Randy said the body was mutilated and feels it is revenge.
Most South Carolina executions are by electrocution, with the three most recent using lethal injection. States struggle to get injection drugs, as the EU bans drug sales for executions, and executioners struggle to find a vein at times.
Autopsies showed convicts suffered and felt like they were drowning during injections. The Justice Department stopped using injections, and only five states still have this method.
Three recent executions in South Carolina used lethal injection, raising questions as each man took around 20 minutes to die. A 2023 law restricts execution details, keeping team member identities secret and how the state buys drugs hidden.
Drug companies refuse to sell drugs. The ACLU sued the state in January, opposing the secrecy. They say it silences experts, including scientists, journalists, and lawyers. South Carolina released only one autopsy, which showed fluid in lungs.