Brad Keith Sigmon Executed by Firing Squad in South Carolina’s First Modern-Era Execution

On March 7, 2025, South Carolina carried out its first firing squad execution in modern history, bringing an end to the United States' 15-year hiatus on the use of the technique. Brad Keith Sigmon, 67, was put to death for violently slaying his former girlfriend's parents, Gladys and David Larke, in 2001. The event has revived controversies over capital punishment and the method applied in carrying out death penalties.

Background of the Crime

In April 2001, Sigmon perpetrated a vicious act that stunned the community. Following a breakup with his girlfriend, Rebecca Armstrong, he attacked her parents in their South Carolina home, bludgeoning them to death with a baseball bat. The motive was because of his rage and inability to accept the relationship breakup. At his 2002 trial, Sigmon outright confessed to the crime, informing the jury, "I am guilty. I have no excuse for what I did. It's my fault, and I'm not trying to blame nobody else for it, and I'm sorry." He was found guilty and sentenced to death due to this confession.

Choice of Execution Method

South Carolina's methods of execution offer prisoners a choice of lethal injection, the electric chair, or firing squad. Sigmon opted for the firing squad, explaining that she was afraid the other methods would hurt too much. This was the first time he had been put to death by firing squad since 2010 and only the fourth since 1976. The state's Department of Corrections had been getting ready for this mode by renovating the Capital Punishment Facility at Broad River Correctional Institution in order to be in compliance with the firing squad procedures. Execution Procedure

The lethal injection was carried out at Broad River Correctional Institution in Columbia. Sigmon was strapped into a specially designed chair, with a hood over his head. Three volunteer corrections officers, standing 15 feet away, were trained with rifles aimed at a target above his heart and both discharged live bullets at the same time. The witnesses gave an account of how Sigmon initially responded with brief signs of movement before being pronounced dead at 6:08 p.m.

Last Meal and Statement

In his final meal, Sigmon requested a Southern-style meal consisting of fried chicken, green beans, mashed potatoes covered in gravy, biscuits, cheesecake, and sweet tea. He initially requested three buckets of Kentucky Fried Chicken to be divided among other inmates, but this was denied. In his final words, read by his lawyer, Sigmon appealed to Christians to campaign for the abolition of the death penalty, in accordance with his belief that only God has the right to take a life.

Reaction of the Victims' Family

Rebecca Armstrong, victim's daughter and former girlfriend of Sigmon, was ambivalent about the execution. While she is not in favor of the death penalty herself, she acknowledged the seriousness of Sigmon's crime and the enormous trauma caused to her family. Armstrong's parents, being "simple country folks" and the backbone of her family, were lost to her forever. Her son, the Larkes' grandson, attended the execution as a means of putting it behind them and fulfilling justice for the atrocious murders of his grandparents.

Broader Implications and Discussions

This application has also renewed debate over the method of capital punishment in America. Firing squads are not commonly utilized, with only four applications since 1976. The majority of executions are administered through lethal injection; however, issues such as drug shortages and prolonged executions have led some states to question alternative methods. South Carolina's application of the firing squad brings attention to the continuing challenges and moral issues associated with the use of the death penalty.

Public opinion on capital punishment has been shifting, with support at a five-decade low. This decline is reflected in the decreasing number of death row inmates and executions nationwide. Proponents of abolishing the death penalty contend that it is a barbaric and antiquated practice, whereas supporters argue that it is a necessary deterrent and means of retribution for the most heinous crimes. Sigmon's firing-squad execution has also ignites these controversies, and there has been a rethink of the state-sponsored execution practices and ethics.

The execution of Brad Keith Sigmon is a turning point in the history of capital punishment in America. It captures the subtleties and controversies of the death penalty, from the methods employed to the ethical issues it presents. As society grapples with these issues, Sigmon's case is a poignant reminder of the profound impact of violent crime and the relentless quest for justice and humanity in the law.