South Carolina reinstates controversial execution method by firing squad
In South Carolina, USA, 67-year-old Brad Sigman has been sentenced to death and now faces execution by a method that was previously banned, reigniting the debate over the controversial nature of the death penalty. Sigman, found guilty of a brutal murder, has spent decades behind bars awaiting the day when the justice system will exact its ultimate punishment.
The method chosen for Sigman’s execution involves shooting him to death, a process involving three volunteer shooters whose identities are closely protected by the state.
In 2001, Brad Sigmon’s dangerous obsession with his ex-girlfriend, Becky Larke, led to the brutal killings of her parents, David and Gladys Larke, with a baseball bat. Afterward, he tried to force Becky into a car, but she managed to escape.
Sigmon went on the run, only to be captured in Tennessee after 11 days. He was convicted for the murders and sentenced to death.
After spending 22 years on death row, Sigmon was executed by firing squad in March 2025 at 67 years old. In his final statement, he spoke out against the death penalty.
Brad Keith Sigmon is the first inmate in South Carolina executed by firing squad and the fourth in the U.S. since 1977, with all previous cases occurring in Utah.
