Executed in the US by Firing Squad!

[CharlieH]

Brad Sigmon is executed by firing squad for murdering his ex-girlfriend's parents...

A death row inmate who bludgeoned his ex-girlfriend's parents to death with a baseball bat in 2001 has been executed after a final meal of KFC.

Brad Sigmon, 67, was put to death by firing squad at 6.05pm on Friday at the Broad River Correctional Institution in Columbia, South Carolina.

He was declared dead at 6.08pm by on-site medical staff after three prison guards who volunteered for the grisly task fired at his heart with rifles from 15ft away.

 

Convict Brad Sigmon became the first to face a firing squad execution in the U.S. since 2010 at a South Carolina prison. Putting an end to his life, this marks just the fourth such execution in nearly half a century. Tension peaked as he lost a last-ditch appeal mere hours before his controversial death on Friday evening.

 

Sigmon's last meal was a feast—four pieces of fried chicken, green beans, mashed potatoes with gravy, biscuits, cheesecake, and sweet tea. Sharing his favorite Kentucky Fried Chicken meal with fellow inmates reflected his reputation as a spiritual figure among the condemned.

 

As the curtain lifted at 6:01 pm, Sigmon sat strapped to a chair, the iconic bullseye target affixed to his chest. Despite his silence, he communicated with his lawyer and spiritual advisor before being hooded at 6:03 pm. Executioners, stood behind a bulletproof barrier, swiftly carried out the order by 6:05 pm, each shot a synchronized jolt across the room.

 

Witnesses recoiled at the gruesome sight as a crowd protested outside against the perceived inhumanity of such punishment. Inside, witnesses included media representatives, relatives of the victims, and Sigmon's supporters.

While many decry the event, Sigmon's lawyer argued that his choice stemmed from a string of recent botched injections and fear of the outdated electric chair. The state spent $54,000 constructing a specialized execution room, housing a basin for blood and ensuring shooter safety.

 

Sigmon's final days reflected introspection and kinship, as highlighted in a heartfelt statement steeped in Biblical texts. His lawyer emphasized Sigmon's mission to serve as a spiritual guide, portraying a changed man on death row.

 

Based on information from the Associated Press.

 

 

 

[giddyup]

A good a way to go as any I imagine.

[Emdog]

It only hurts for a very brief time I have heard. As Gary Gilmore famously said prior to his firing squad execution in 1977 "Let's do it"

It is unclear if Nike ad motto "Just do it" was a spin off of Gilmore's last words

[Cryingdick]

I don't really support the death penalty but I also don't find anything about his death controversial. I am too lazy to bother looking it up but I think this method is by request. They are offered a couple of choices, most do lethal injection.

[JeffersLos]

14 hours ago, CharlieH said:

a final meal of KFC.

 

14 hours ago, CharlieH said:

was declared dead at 6.08pm

 

I've been there. 

[MicroB]

56 minutes ago, Cryingdick said:

I don't really support the death penalty but I also don't find anything about his death controversial. I am too lazy to bother looking it up but I think this method is by request. They are offered a couple of choices, most do lethal injection.

 

I'm surprised by the size of the firing squad; 3 prison officers, who all volunteered. I'm not sure if they had 1 live round between 3 or 3 live rounds. Surprised not a 7 man squad.

 

Or if there is objection to the Chinese approach.

[jts-khorat]

16 hours ago, CharlieH said:

A death row inmate who bludgeoned his ex-girlfriend's parents to death with a baseball bat in 2001 has been executed after a final meal of KFC.

Brad Sigmon, 67, was put to death by firing squad at 6.05pm

 

Americans are literally barbarians.

 

A society which is not able to socialize its members enough to prevent them from doing the most heinous crime, is then enacting itself the same gruesome act. No wonder, that in light of such uncouth uncivilized behaviour of the state, the whole populace is itself debased in its actions, leading to the highest rate of incarceration on the planet.

 

'Land of the Free' is just so much propaganda they tell themselves. But as long as they are happy in their delusion...

[HappyExpat57]

1 hour ago, JeffersLos said:

 

 

I've been there. 

 

[Cryingdick]

4 hours ago, MicroB said:

 

I'm surprised by the size of the firing squad; 3 prison officers, who all volunteered. I'm not sure if they had 1 live round between 3 or 3 live rounds. Surprised not a 7 man squad.

 

Or if there is objection to the Chinese approach.

 

I think the Chinese put the bullet in the head. They shot this guy in his heart he can have an open casket funeral before he is out in some random unmarked grave to rot in hell.

[MicroB]

6 minutes ago, Cryingdick said:

 

I think the Chinese put the bullet in the head. They shot this guy in his heart he can have an open casket funeral before he is out in some random unmarked grave to rot in hell.

 

 

Look up Ginggaew Lorsoungnern. She was executed by machine gun (10 rounds) in Thailand in 1979. Well, so they thought. She woke up in the morgue and started screaming and walking around. She had Situs inversus, so her heart was on the opposite side. At first they tried to roll her, to bleed her out. Then one of the officers tried to strangle her, but that didn;t work, so they dragged back into the execution room, tied her to the post and tried again, this time with 15 bullets.

 

They had another execution lined up right after. Because of the botch, the second prisoner had to wait 10-15 minutes. Even that was botched.  First time, 13 bullets, but he was still breathing. So they reloaded and put in another 10.

 

 

Personally, if you are going to have capital punishment, it needs to be by the most horrific but quick method possible. If the state has the power to take a life, it needs to live with the consequences. Guilotine, unwashed. Witnesses to be present. Doctor on hand to confirm death by holding and presenting the head to the witnesses. The witnesses and staff can live with the memories.

 

Fictionalised execution of Gary Glitter. Under the British approach, the condemmed would not be given an execution date or time.

 

 

[BangkokReady]

5 hours ago, jts-khorat said:

Americans are literally barbarians.

 

A society which is not able to socialize its members enough to prevent them from doing the most heinous crime, is then enacting itself the same gruesome act. No wonder, that in light of such uncouth uncivilized behaviour of the state, the whole populace is itself debased in its actions, leading to the highest rate of incarceration on the planet.

 

'Land of the Free' is just so much propaganda they tell themselves. But as long as they are happy in their delusion...

 

Isn't America the only wealthy country that doesn't have tax payer funded health care?

[Tidal wave]

An end fit for a president keep practicing. 

[bamnutsak]

'Ol Sparky must be down for maintenance.

[Smokin Joe]

5 hours ago, MicroB said:

Personally, if you are going to have capital punishment, it needs to be by the most horrific but quick method possible. If the state has the power to take a life, it needs to live with the consequences. Guilotine, unwashed. Witnesses to be present. Doctor on hand to confirm death by holding and presenting the head to the witnesses. The witnesses and staff can live with the memories.

 

 

An unwashed Guillotone? Oh, the horror. You could get hepatitis.

 

That would be as bad as getting lethal injection with a dirty needle.

[MicroB]

7 hours ago, Smokin Joe said:

 

An unwashed Guillotone? Oh, the horror. You could get hepatitis.

 

That would be as bad as getting lethal injection with a dirty needle.

 

Those who support capital punishment should fully embrace it and not some sanitised version that makes them sleep better at night. Witnesses should be based on public ballot, like jury service. Yeah, witnesses should be forced into a blood splatter horror chamber. The guards can pathetically try and mop the gore.

 

Then there is the Saudi version, where they would then crucify the beheaded body for 3 days, on public display, kind of like the gibbet.

 

Yeah, barbaric. That's the point.

 

A dirty needle might impact the effectiveness of the killing cocktail.

[Nick Carter icp]

2 minutes ago, MicroB said:

 

Those who support capital punishment should fully embrace it and not some sanitised version that makes them sleep better at night. Witnesses should be based on public ballot, like jury service. Yeah, witnesses should be forced into a blood splatter horror chamber. The guards can pathetically try and mop the gore.

 

 

    You could sell tickets and make a it a slow death and without  a hood as well , the last thing that they would ever see would be my smiling face 

[Harrisfan]

Kfc final meal 

 

I'd go lobster bisque, wagyu steak rare, maple ice cream with mud cake.

[TedG]

17 hours ago, jts-khorat said:

 

Americans are literally barbarians.

 

A society which is not able to socialize its members enough to prevent them from doing the most heinous crime, is then enacting itself the same gruesome act. No wonder, that in light of such uncouth uncivilized behaviour of the state, the whole populace is itself debased in its actions, leading to the highest rate of incarceration on the planet.

 

'Land of the Free' is just so much propaganda they tell themselves. But as long as they are happy in their delusion...

 

His ex-girlfriend's parents can't be reached for comment. 

[TedG]

12 hours ago, BangkokReady said:

 

Isn't America the only wealthy country that doesn't have tax payer funded health care?

Medicare, Medicaid. 

[NoDisplayName]

On 3/8/2025 at 10:28 AM, CharlieH said:

Putting an end to his life, this marks just the fourth such execution in nearly half a century.

 

But we have had several executions by drone strike ordered by presidential authority without a trial.

[BangkokReady]

26 minutes ago, TedG said:

Medicare, Medicaid. 

 

So every US citizen can just call and ambulance/walk into a hospital, get treatment, then leave when better, no matter how long, with aftercare as well, for free?

[TedG]

6 minutes ago, BangkokReady said:

 

So every US citizen can just call and ambulance/walk into a hospital, get treatment, then leave when better, no matter how long, with aftercare as well, for free?

Nothing is free in life, buddy.   

[Liverpool Lou]

18 hours ago, jts-khorat said:

Americans are literally barbarians.

Actually, they are literally not...they may be figuratively.

[Liverpool Lou]

13 hours ago, bamnutsak said:

'Ol Sparky must be down for maintenance.

Ol' bamnutsak must not have read the OP.

[JonnyF]

Nothing wrong with capital punishment as long as there is no doubt about guilt.

 

Obviously I would exclude the UK from this as David Lammy would make execution illegal for non whites and non Christians. 

[jts-khorat]

1 hour ago, Harrisfan said:

Kfc final meal 

 

I'd go lobster bisque, wagyu steak rare, maple ice cream with mud cake.

 

I see you gave it some thought.

 

Is something pressing on your mind? I heard confessing the truth makes the heart feel much lighter. You know, deep down, you want to talk!

[BangkokReady]

36 minutes ago, TedG said:

Nothing is free in life, buddy.   

 

I'll take that as a "no" then.  

 

As I said, the US is possibly the only wealthy country without tax payer funded health care.  🤷‍♂️

[Cryingdick]

On 3/8/2025 at 6:54 PM, MicroB said:

 

 

Look up Ginggaew Lorsoungnern. She was executed by machine gun (10 rounds) in Thailand in 1979. Well, so they thought. She woke up in the morgue and started screaming and walking around. She had Situs inversus, so her heart was on the opposite side. At first they tried to roll her, to bleed her out. Then one of the officers tried to strangle her, but that didn;t work, so they dragged back into the execution room, tied her to the post and tried again, this time with 15 bullets.

 

They had another execution lined up right after. Because of the botch, the second prisoner had to wait 10-15 minutes. Even that was botched.  First time, 13 bullets, but he was still breathing. So they reloaded and put in another 10.

 

 

Personally, if you are going to have capital punishment, it needs to be by the most horrific but quick method possible. If the state has the power to take a life, it needs to live with the consequences. Guilotine, unwashed. Witnesses to be present. Doctor on hand to confirm death by holding and presenting the head to the witnesses. The witnesses and staff can live with the memories.

 

Fictionalised execution of Gary Glitter. Under the British approach, the condemmed would not be given an execution date or time.

 

 

 

This guy chose the method so just stop.

[Cryingdick]

11 hours ago, Harrisfan said:

Kfc final meal 

 

I'd go lobster bisque, wagyu steak rare, maple ice cream with mud cake.

 

I was reading about final meals. Apparently we put down somebody with an IQ around 60 or whatever. He ordered something with a cake for dessert. He left the cake when called. When asked why he said he was saving it for later.

[MicroB]

20 hours ago, Cryingdick said:

 

This guy chose the method so just stop.

 

I know he did. There are disturbing reasons why he opted for this. And I won't just because you say so. Freedom of speech and all that.

 

In my opunin, those who support the death penalty should be prepared, if called upon, to attend a non-sanitized execution. I;'d rather lock them up and throw away the key. Reinstate the idea of the oubliette. 40 years of eternal darkness. Suicide by hangman is too easy a way out.