Brad Sigmon, a 67-year-old man on death row in South Carolina, has chosen to die by firing squad — marking the first time in the state's history this method would be used if the execution proceeds as scheduled on March 7.
His execution will mark the first time in 15 years that the US has allowed the method to go ahead, the Guardian reports.
The decision comes amid growing controversy over execution methods, with Sigmon's attorneys arguing that his options amounted to choosing between different forms of torture.
Sigmon was sentenced to death in 2002 for the brutal murders of his former girlfriend’s parents, David and Gladys Larke, WISTV reports.
According to investigators, he attacked them in separate rooms with a baseball bat, going back and forth between them until both were dead.
Under South Carolina law, death row inmates must select one of three execution methods: lethal injection, the electric chair, or the firing squad. If they refuse to choose, they are automatically assigned the electric chair.
Since the state resumed capital punishment in 2024 after a 13-year hiatus, all previous inmates have opted for lethal injection — until now.
A Choice Between ‘Monstrous’ Methods
Sigmon’s lawyers argue that his "impossible" decision was made under extreme duress.
"Unless he elected lethal injection or the firing squad, he would die in South Carolina’s ancient electric chair, which would burn and cook him alive," his attorneys said, per CBS News. "But the alternative is just as monstrous."
His legal team has raised significant concerns over the state’s recent lethal injections, which they claim have been botched. The last three men executed — Freddie Owens, Richard Moore, and Marion Bowman — “remained alive, strapped to a gurney, for more than twenty minutes,” his attorneys stated.
They also argue that South Carolina’s Department of Corrections (SCDC) has withheld key information about the drugs used, their effectiveness, and potential pain inflicted on inmates.
"How can Brad possibly determine the least torturous way to die when the state hides the truth at every step? How could anyone?" they said. "The only choice that remained is the firing squad."
Gerald “Bo” King - Sigmon’s attorney - described the decision as “not an informed choice” but rather “a forced one.” He expressed frustration that his client must decide between “being electrocuted, poisoned, or shot,” while critical information about each method is concealed.
How a Firing Squad Execution Works
If carried out, Sigmon’s execution would be the first by firing squad in the U.S. since 2010, when Utah executed Ronnie Lee Gardner. South Carolina is one of five states that allow firing squads, alongside Utah, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Idaho.
The SCDC’s execution protocols dictate that Sigmon will be strapped into a metal chair and restrained.
A hood will be placed over his head, and a target affixed to his heart. Three executioners, standing behind a 15-foot barrier, will fire rifles loaded with live ammunition at the target. After the shots are fired, a doctor will examine him and pronounce him dead.
A South Carolina judge previously ruled in 2022 that firing squad executions constitute “torture” and violate constitutional protections against cruel and unusual punishment. The judge noted that the inmate is “likely to be conscious for a minimum of 10 seconds after impact” and may suffer additional pain if the bullets fail to fully incapacitate the heart. If necessary, additional shots may be fired after 10 minutes.
Despite this, the South Carolina Supreme Court later upheld the practice, ruling that offering inmates multiple execution options made it lawful.
Controversy Over Lethal Injection
Lethal injection has long been the default execution method in South Carolina, but the state ran out of lethal injection drugs in 2011 after pharmaceutical companies stopped selling them for capital punishment.
In response, lawmakers passed a "shield law" in 2023, allowing officials to keep suppliers' identities secret. With the ability to restock drugs, executions resumed last year.
However, Sigmon’s attorneys claim the state's handling of lethal injections has been deeply flawed. The November execution of Richard Moore allegedly required a second dose of pentobarbital after 10 minutes, despite the SCDC claiming the protocol calls for a single dose.
Moore’s autopsy showed he suffered pulmonary edema, a condition where the lungs fill with fluid, causing sensations similar to drowning.
Similarly, in January, the execution of Marion Bowman lasted 23 minutes, and officials refused to disclose how many doses were administered. “You have three executions that have seemingly gone awry,” King said, arguing that “it could be excruciatingly painful.”
Despite these concerns, SCDC spokesperson Chrysti Shain defended the state's lethal injection practices, stating they adhere to federal guidelines. However, the U.S. Justice Department withdrew its own pentobarbital protocol in January, citing “uncertainty” over whether the drug causes unnecessary suffering.
Sigmon’s Final Days
Beyond the legal battle over his execution, Sigmon’s attorneys emphasize his personal transformation during his decades on death row. They describe him as “enormously remorseful,” a “devout Christian,” and a “source of strength and stability” to both fellow inmates and prison guards.
King argued that executing Sigmon serves no purpose other than to send a chilling message: “No matter how profoundly a person repents, South Carolina refuses to recognize redemption.”
If executed on March 7, Sigmon will be the oldest person ever put to death in South Carolina.