US To Execute Prisoner By Firing Squad For First Time In 15 Years; Here’s Why And How It Will Happen

South Carolina is set to carry out the first execution by firing squad in the United States in 15 years on Friday. Brad Sigmon, convicted of murdering his ex-girlfriend’s parents in 2001, has chosen this method over the electric chair and lethal injection, the two other execution options available in the state.

Since 1608, at least 144 civilian prisoners have been executed by firing squad in the United States, with most occurring in Utah. Since capital punishment resumed in 1977 following a decade-long pause, only three executions by firing squad have taken place. The first of these, Gary Gilmore in 1977, drew significant media attention due to his voluntary waiver of appeals. When asked for his final words, he famously replied, “Let’s do it.”

Historically, execution by firing squad has been associated with military and wartime justice. The method is often chosen because firearms are widely available and a gunshot to the heart or brain is usually quick and effective. In some cases, a coup de grâce—a close-range shot by an officer—was administered to ensure death.

Mechanics Of Firing Squad Execution

A firing squad typically consists of multiple shooters instructed to fire simultaneously, preventing any one individual from knowing if they delivered the fatal shot. To minimise visible injury, executioners are usually instructed to aim at the condemned’s heart. The prisoner is often blindfolded or hooded and restrained, either standing or sitting. In Utah, where firing squad executions have taken place in recent decades, one of the shooters traditionally fires a blank round to further obscure who fired the lethal shot.

However, South Carolina’s approach differs. Under its protocol, three executioners will each fire live ammunition from a distance of about 15 feet. Before the shots are fired, Sigmon’s head will be covered with a hood, and a target will be placed over his heart. Once the warden reads the execution order, the shooters will fire simultaneously.

Controversy and Safety Concerns

The return of the firing squad as an execution method has sparked debate, particularly over concerns about its effectiveness and ethics. Witnesses, including journalists, attorneys, and victims’ family members, will observe the execution from behind a glass partition. They are expected to see Sigmon until he is pronounced dead, after which a curtain will be drawn, and they will be escorted away. Some firearms experts who reviewed images of the execution chamber have raised safety concerns, questioning whether the setup ensures a quick and humane death.