Lawyer Raises Concerns Following South Carolina’s First Execution by Firing Squad
Brad Sigmon, a 67-year-old death row inmate, was executed on March 7, marking South Carolina’s first execution by firing squad and the first such execution in the U.S. in 15 years.
Sigmon was convicted in 2001 for the murders of David and Gladys Larke, the parents of his ex-girlfriend. After the fatal attack, he kidnapped his former partner, though she managed to escape while he fired at her. Following his conviction, he was sentenced to two life terms plus 30 years for first-degree burglary.
Having spent 23 years on death row, Sigmon was given the choice of execution methods and selected firing squad over the electric chair and lethal injection. However, in a newly released statement, his lawyer Bo King has raised concerns about how the execution was handled, suggesting that Sigmon may have preferred lethal injection if it had been available.
The execution took place at Broad River Capital Punishment Facility, where Sigmon was seated in a specially designated chair as part of the state’s firing squad protocol. The method, rarely used in modern times, has sparked renewed debate on execution practices and the ethics of capital punishment.
King’s statement adds to the ongoing discussion about South Carolina’s execution policies and whether inmates should have broader choices regarding their method of execution. As legal experts and human rights groups weigh in, the case continues to raise questions about the future of capital punishment in the state.