On March 7, 2025, Brad Sigmon became the first person in 15 years to be executed by firing squad in the United States.
Convicted for the early 2000s murders of David and Gladys Larke, the parents of his ex-girlfriend, Sigmon's choice of execution method drew significant attention. His legal team indicated that he feared being 'cooked alive' if subjected to the electric chair.
In a last-ditch effort to postpone the execution, Sigmon's attorneys argued that he was compelled to choose the firing squad due to insufficient information about lethal injection protocols.
Despite these efforts, the execution proceeded as scheduled, with Sigmon pronounced dead at 6:08PM local time on March 7.
Following the execution, Sigmon's brother, Mike, provided insight into Brad's final moments. Describing his demeanor during the execution, Mike stated to The New York Post, "He had a proud face when he sat down to be shot."
Reflecting on the inevitability of the situation, he added, "I’m never going to feel relieved about it but he said what he wanted to say and he died the way he wanted to die."
The Sigmon family, comprising three brothers and two sisters, visited Brad in prison before his execution. Additionally, one of Brad's sons had a private visit with him.
Mike revealed that since his arrest, Brad had expressed remorse, stating, "He’s been apologetic since the day he was captured."
He also mentioned Brad's initial desire for a fatal confrontation with law enforcement, noting, "He wanted death by cop. He called my mom and she said you know my phone is tapped. He knew. He wanted to pretend he had a gun behind his back so the cops would shoot him but they tackled him so fast he had no time to react."
Their mother, currently residing in a nursing home due to Alzheimer's disease, has not been informed of Brad's execution, and the family does not plan to tell her.
Brad's legal representatives also commented on the execution. Attorney Bo King emphasized that Brad sought assurance regarding the drugs used in executions, stating, "Brad only wanted assurances that these drugs were not expired, or diluted, or spoiled - what any of us would want to know about the medication we take, or the food we eat, much less the means of our death."
King further criticized the state's decision, remarking, "It is unfathomable that, in 2025, South Carolina would execute one of its citizens in this bloody spectacle."