Brad Sigmon Dies by Firing Squad A convicted double murderer became the first person executed by firing squad in South Carolina.
Details of the Execution
Brad Sigmon completed his death sentence on March 7. Three volunteers used rifles to shoot him simultaneously. They fired from 15 feet away in the Broad River Correctional Institution. A doctor declared him dead at 6.08pm.
The Final Statement
The 67-year-old inmate used his final words to oppose the death penalty. His attorney read the statement aloud. Sigmon cited the Bible to claim that Christians should not kill.
“I want my closing statement to be one of love and a calling to my fellow Christians to help us end the death penalty.”
“We are not under God’s grace and mercy.”
History of the Crimes
Sigmon spent 23 years on death row. He killed David and Gladys Larke with a baseball bat in 2002. They were the parents of his ex-girlfriend. He attacked them just one week after a breakup.
Legal Context and Process
A jury sentenced him to death despite efforts by his lawyers. In South Carolina, inmates can choose their method of execution. Sigmon wore a black jumpsuit with a target over his heart. He was only the fourth person shot by a firing squad in the US since 1976.