In Columbia, South Carolina, an execution set to occur on Friday evening will mark the first use of a firing squad in the United States in 15 years. This form of execution will replace the conventional methods of lethal injection and electrocution for Brad Sigmon, a man convicted of brutally murdering his ex-girlfriend’s parents with a baseball bat. As he faces his punishment, Sigmon will not meet his end by injection or electrocution, but rather at the hands of three riflemen stationed about 15 feet away.
Historically, South Carolina has executed 46 inmates using either lethal injection or electrocution since 1985. However, Sigmon’s case will revive the use of the firing squad, a method rarely used in the U.S., having been implemented only three times—in Utah in the years 1977, 1996, and 2010—since the death penalty’s reinstatement in 1976.
The event, taking place at the Broad River Correctional Institution in Columbia, will be witnessed by reporters, the family members of Sigmon’s victims, and his lawyer. Observers will be separated from the execution chamber by bulletproof glass, and Sigmon will have an opportunity for a final statement. Sigmon, at 67 years old, was convicted of killing his ex-girlfriend’s parents in Greenville County back in 2001. The violent crime involved the use of a baseball bat, as Sigmon moved between different rooms to commit the murders. Following the crime, he also kidnapped his ex-girlfriend at gunpoint, but she managed a daring escape, avoiding gunfire as she fled.
As the process unfolds, Sigmon will be moved closer to the death chamber just before 6 p.m., where the warden will confirm with the Governor and the Attorney General whether any reprieves or legal impediments exist. Absent any such interventions, the curtain separating Sigmon from the witnesses will rise, allowing the execution to proceed. Sigmon will then be secured to a metal chair, and a hood will be placed over his head, while a medical professional positions a target over his heart.
The execution will employ three state Department of Corrections volunteers, each with a loaded rifle. From a concealed firing point, they will execute the procedure without being visible to witnesses. A doctor will later pronounce Sigmon dead, and witnesses will sign documentation verifying the execution. When lethal injections are performed in the same facility, a gurney hides the firing squad and electric chair, which remain unused during those executions.
Specifics about the firing squad remain largely undisclosed, with a 2023 shield law keeping much information, including the identities of those involved and the details of their training, confidential. Nonetheless, during a 2022 trial, it was revealed that the firing squad will use .308-caliber Winchester 110-grain TAP Urban ammunition. This choice stems from the bullet’s design to fragment upon hitting a solid target, such as a rib cage, with the aim of causing catastrophic heart damage to hasten unconsciousness and minimize suffering.
Medical assessments provided disparate views on the aftermath of the initial shots, should Sigmon survive them. If the heart’s damage is insufficient, the execution may require additional shots. The state’s protocol regarding such contingencies remains vague, though witnesses from the 2022 trial implied that the firing squad would be prepared to shoot again if necessary. The method, though controversial, seeks to adhere to constitutional standards by ensuring a rapid, if not immediate, cessation of life, though experts debate the reality of the method’s impact.
