South Carolina Supreme Court Denies Final Appeal, Clearing Path for Brad Sigmon’s Execution by Firing Squad
By James Seidel | CC News Network
March 7, 2025
COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina Supreme Court has denied what appears to be the final appeal for Brad Sigmon’s execution, a death row inmate set to be executed by firing squad on Friday, March 7. Sigmon, convicted for the brutal 2001 murders of his ex-girlfriend’s parents in Greenville County, will be the first person executed by firing squad in South Carolina and the first firing squad execution in the United States in nearly 15 years.
CC News Network to Cover Execution Live on TikTok and X
CC News Network will provide live coverage of Sigmon’s execution tonight at 6 p.m. on TikTok and X — marking the second time the network has covered a South Carolina execution in real time for its growing audience of true crime followers and legal analysts.
A Choice Between Methods: Firing Squad or Lethal Injection?
Sigmon, 67, opted for the firing squad after raising serious concerns about South Carolina’s lethal injection protocol. His attorneys argued the state’s secrecy around its lethal injection drug supply left them unable to assess whether the process would lead to excruciating pain or a botched execution.
In court filings, Sigmon’s legal team pointed to recent autopsy findings from two South Carolina inmates executed by lethal injection — Richard Moore in November 2024 and Marion Bowman in January 2025. Both men reportedly suffered from severe pulmonary edema, or fluid-filled lungs, which could indicate prolonged suffering and gasping for breath before death.
Convicted Killer with a Violent History
Sigmon was convicted in 2002 for beating his ex-girlfriend’s parents to death with a baseball bat inside their Greenville home. His plan was to kidnap his ex-girlfriend, take her away for a final romantic weekend, and then kill her and himself. She managed to escape his car and survive.
In his own confession, Sigmon explained his motive, saying:
“If I couldn’t have her, I wasn’t going to let anybody else have her.”
Execution Procedure: Firing Squad at Broad River Correctional
At 6 p.m., Sigmon will be strapped to a chair in South Carolina’s execution chamber at Broad River Correctional Institution in Columbia. A hood will be placed over his head, and a target will be positioned over his heart.
Three anonymous corrections officers, armed with rifles, will fire simultaneously from 15 feet away through a small opening in the chamber wall.
South Carolina spent $54,000 to construct its firing squad chamber in 2022, outfitting it with bulletproof glass for witnesses, a drainage system to handle blood runoff, and a concrete barrier for the shooters.
Legal Challenges Over Lethal Injection Secrecy
Sigmon’s attorneys argued in court filings that South Carolina’s shield law, which protects the identity of lethal injection drug suppliers and the exact drug protocol used, leaves condemned inmates unable to make informed decisions about their method of execution.
With lethal injection ruled out over these concerns, Sigmon said his only realistic choices were firing squad or electrocution. He declined the electric chair, saying he feared being “cooked alive” by Old Sparky, South Carolina’s decades-old electric chair.
Defense Calls Process Barbaric
Defense attorney Gerald “Bo” King condemned the process in a blistering statement:
“There is no justice here. Everything about this barbaric, state-sanctioned atrocity — from the choice to the method itself — is abjectly cruel. We should not just be horrified — we should be furious.”
Clemency Request in Governor’s Hands
Sigmon’s final hope rests with Governor Henry McMaster, who has the power to commute his death sentence to life without parole. However, no South Carolina governor has granted clemency since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976.
Sigmon’s attorneys emphasized his model behavior behind bars and his daily efforts to atone for his crimes. They also highlighted severe mental health struggles that went underreported during his original sentencing.
South Carolina’s Troubled Death Penalty History
South Carolina resumed executions in 2024 after a 12-year pause caused by drug shortages and ongoing legal challenges over execution methods. The state legislature reinstated firing squads in 2021 as part of a law requiring inmates to choose between lethal injection, electrocution, or firing squad.
Sigmon’s execution will mark the second in South Carolina this year — following the controversial lethal injection of Marion Bowman in January, which faced scrutiny after witnesses reported unusual delays and disturbing autopsy findings.
A National Spotlight on Capital Punishment
South Carolina is one of just five states that authorize firing squad executions, alongside Utah, Oklahoma, Mississippi, and Idaho. The method, which has not been used in the U.S. since 2010, is increasingly seen as a fallback option in states struggling to secure lethal injection drugs.
Critics say firing squads are archaic and gruesome, while some death penalty supporters argue they offer a quicker, more reliable death than botched lethal injections.
Watch Live Coverage Tonight
CC News Network will provide live coverage of Brad Sigmon’s execution starting around 5:45 p.m. Eastern tonight on:
TikTok: Follow Us on TikTok: @CCNewsNetwork X (formerly Twitter): @CCNewsNetwork
This marks the second live execution coverage for CC News Network, following our exclusive coverage of the execution of Richard Moore in November 2024.
Stay with CC News Network for breaking updates, in-depth analysis, and exclusive reports on South Carolina’s death row cases, criminal justice system, and the future of capital punishment.
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