COLUMBIA, S.C. — A decision that will make history in the modern era of capital punishment has been made by condemned South Carolina inmate Brad Sigmon, who has opted for execution by firing squad. The 64-year-old, convicted of the brutal 2001 double murder of his ex-girlfriend’s parents, is set to be executed on March 7, 2025. If carried out, this will mark the first execution by firing squad in the United States in over 15 years, reigniting nationwide debates over the ethics of capital punishment and the methods used for state-sanctioned death sentences.

Background: The Crimes That Led to Sigmon’s Death Sentence

Brad Keith Sigmon was sentenced to death after being found guilty of the horrific murders of David and Gladys Larke, the parents of his former girlfriend. The tragic crime unfolded on April 27, 2001, in Buncombe County, North Carolina, when Sigmon, reportedly consumed by rage over the end of his relationship, broke into the couple’s home armed with a baseball bat. Prosecutors detailed how he savagely bludgeoned David Larke to death and then turned his violent wrath on Gladys Larke, who was left critically injured and later succumbed to her wounds.

Court records indicate that after committing the murders, Sigmon stole the couple’s car and fled the scene, prompting a multi-state manhunt that ended with his arrest days later. During his trial, the jury heard chilling details of how the crime was premeditated and driven by an uncontrollable sense of revenge. He was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder and sentenced to death in 2002.

Legal Battles and Arguments for Clemency

Despite the overwhelming evidence against him and his admission of guilt in court, Sigmon’s attorneys have spent the past two decades fighting to prevent his execution. They argue that Sigmon’s crimes were deeply rooted in a history of severe childhood abuse, neglect, and an untreated mental illness, which may have contributed to his violent actions.

On February 15, 2025, his legal team submitted a last-minute petition to halt the execution, contending that his trial lawyers failed to adequately present crucial mitigating evidence regarding his upbringing and mental health. The petition highlights expert testimony suggesting that Sigmon suffers from severe depression and possible schizophrenia, which were never properly diagnosed or treated.

His attorneys have also raised concerns over the fairness of the sentencing process, citing racial and socio-economic disparities in capital punishment cases. However, prosecutors maintain that the crime’s brutality and Sigmon’s premeditated actions justify the ultimate punishment.

The Controversial Return of the Firing Squad in South Carolina

South Carolina’s decision to reintroduce the firing squad as a method of execution stems from the state’s inability to procure the drugs necessary for lethal injection. In 2021, lawmakers passed legislation allowing death row inmates to choose between electrocution and the firing squad, arguing that alternative execution methods were necessary due to the national shortage of lethal injection drugs.

The firing squad option consists of three riflemen aiming at the condemned prisoner’s heart, a method designed to cause instant death while minimizing suffering. Sigmon’s decision to choose this method has reignited national debates over whether such executions constitute cruel and unusual punishment under the Eighth Amendment.

Public Reaction and Victims’ Families Speak Out

The announcement of Sigmon’s impending execution has elicited strong reactions from both the public and the victims’ families. Some see it as long-overdue justice, while others argue that the state should not be in the business of taking lives.

“I’ve waited over two decades to see justice served for my parents,” said a surviving relative of David and Gladys Larke in a recent interview. “They were loving, kind people who didn’t deserve to have their lives taken in such a brutal way. If this is what it takes to finally have closure, then so be it.”

On the other hand, anti-death penalty activists have voiced outrage over the planned execution, with organizations like the ACLU and Amnesty International condemning the use of a firing squad as barbaric and outdated.

Next Steps: Appeals, Execution Logistics, and What Comes Next

With less than a month remaining before the scheduled execution, legal experts predict that Sigmon’s defense team will continue to file emergency appeals, potentially delaying the execution. If these last-ditch efforts fail, Sigmon will become the first inmate in the U.S. to be executed by firing squad since Ronnie Lee Gardner in Utah in 2010.

South Carolina officials have confirmed that preparations for the execution are already underway, with the state’s corrections department setting up the designated execution chamber, training personnel, and conducting procedural rehearsals to ensure the execution is carried out according to protocol.

As the execution date draws nearer, all eyes will be on South Carolina, with national and international attention focused on whether the controversial execution method will indeed take place as scheduled. Until then, the legal battle rages on, and the debate over capital punishment continues to divide the nation.

For further updates on this case, stay tuned to local news reports and legal proceedings as they unfold.