In a rare and controversial decision, Brad Sigmon, a condemned murderer from South Carolina, has opted to be executed by firing squad next month, marking the first such execution in the U.S. in 15 years.
Sigmon, 67, is set to die on March 7 for the brutal 2001 murders of his ex-girlfriend’s parents, whom he bludgeoned to death with a baseball bat. Rather than face lethal injection or the electric chair, Sigmon has chosen what he believes to be a more certain and less painful fate.
At Broad River Prison, Sigmon will be strapped to a chair in the death chamber, a hood will be placed over his head, and a target positioned over his heart. Three executioners will then fire at him from 15 feet away.
Sigmon’s attorney, Gerald ‘Bo’ King, defended the choice, stating that his client wanted to avoid the electric chair, which he feared would “burn and cook him alive.” Meanwhile, concerns over botched lethal injections—which have led to prolonged and painful deaths—further influenced his decision.
“If he chose lethal injection, he risked the prolonged death suffered by all three of the men South Carolina has executed since September—three men Brad knew and cared for—who remained alive, strapped to a gurney, for more than twenty minutes,” King explained.
Lethal injections in the U.S. have been plagued by drug shortages and failed procedures, prompting increased scrutiny of execution methods. With South Carolina’s secrecy surrounding its execution process, Sigmon’s decision highlights the ongoing debate over capital punishment and humane execution methods.
This case has reignited controversy over the death penalty, with critics arguing that all three available methods—firing squad, electric chair, and lethal injection—carry risks of cruelty. Sigmon’s execution will be the first firing squad execution outside of Utah since 1976.
As the execution date approaches, the nation watches closely, questioning whether this archaic method should still have a place in the modern justice system.
Stay tuned for further updates on this unprecedented case.
