South Carolina death row inmate to face firing squad

COLUMBIA, S.C. — For the first time in nearly 15 years, a death row inmate was killed by firing squad in the U.S.

Brad Sigmon is now the fourth prisoner nationwide to die this way.

Channel 9′s Glenn Counts spent the day in Columbia, South Carolina, as dozens of protesters hoped Gov. Henry McMaster would grant clemency.

Sigmon was pronounced deceased at 6:08 p.m. Friday. He was on death row for more than 20 years.

He was sentenced for killing his ex-girlfriend’s parents with a baseball bat.

Despite the nature of this crime, there was a crowd of people outside the Broad River Correctional Facility hoping that McMaster would give him a last-minute reprieve.

“Our minister Sunday was talking about how God is the ultimate authority, and I don’t believe God is done with Brad Sigmon yet,” said protester Patt Kleckley.

One of the last people Sigmon was able to talk to was Reverend Hilary Taylor of South Carolinians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty.

“Typical Brad, he’s thinking about everybody else but himself. I saw him today for about an hour and a half. It was a huge privilege, and I’m grateful for that opportunity. He just said, ‘I just want everybody to know that I’m ok, and I want to make sure you all are ok,’” Taylor said.

Ultimately, McMaster decided not to grant Sigmon clemency, and a lot of people told Channel 9 they agreed with that decision.

“If it’s beyond a shadow of a doubt or an admission of guilt,” said protester Brendan Canon.

However, Taylor said while Sigmon was a different man from the one who committed the crime, she understands how victims feel.

“Are not here to tell victims of violence how to feel about violence and trauma. Our job is to support them and support people’s healing journey wherever they are,” Taylor explained.

By choosing to die by firing squad, Sigmon became the first man in South Carolina history to be executed that way.

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