South Carolina Executes Prisoner by Firing Squad for First Time in State History

Brad Sigmon, convicted of a 2001 double murder, becomes the first U.S. inmate executed by firing squad in 15 years as states revisit alternative methods amid challenges with lethal injections.

Brad Sigmon, 67, was executed by firing squad on March 7, 2025, at South Carolina's Broad River Correctional Institution after being convicted of killing his ex-girlfriend's parents in 2001.
Sigmon chose the firing squad over lethal injection and the electric chair, citing concerns about the state's lethal injection process and the physical impact of electrocution.
The execution marked South Carolina's first use of the firing squad and the first such execution in the U.S. since 2010, reflecting a shift as states face difficulties obtaining lethal injection drugs.
The execution was carried out by three volunteer prison employees firing rifles from behind a wall, with witnesses including family members of the victims, Sigmon's lawyer, and members of the media.
Sigmon delivered a final statement calling for the abolition of the death penalty, while protests outside the prison highlighted ongoing debate over capital punishment and execution methods.