A journalist from the Associated Press recently witnessed a convicted murderer’s execution by firing squad in South Carolina and has shared his vivid and deeply affecting account of the event. Jeffrey Collins, with over 21 years of experience covering executions in South Carolina and witnessing 11 individuals meet their end through various methods, recently wrote a poignant essay reflecting on this particular execution experience.
On a Friday evening, Collins observed as three prison service volunteers carried out the sentence against Brad Sigmon, marking him as the oldest person to be executed in state history. This execution was part of a string of rapid executions in the state as they reinstate capital punishment after a 13-year hiatus. During this period, death row inmates are now given a choice among the electric chair, lethal injection, or a firing squad.
Sigmon, convicted of a brutal 2001 murder, chose to be executed by firing squad after concerns about the clarity surrounding drugs used in lethal injections and fears of prolonged suffering. As a journalist preparing for the assignment, Collins conducted extensive research, including studying the mechanics of firing squads, examining autopsy photographs, and reviewing Sigmon’s trial transcripts. These preparations, however, did little to ready him for the visceral reality of what he was about to witness.
The procedure was strikingly vivid and violent, a stark contrast to the more clinical nature of lethal injection. Collins noted the intensity and the speed of the event, how it began with the reading of Sigmon’s final statement, followed by the process of blinding and positioning Sigmon, and culminated in the sudden, sharp cracks of the rifles. The journalist found the abruptness of the rifle shots deeply startling and noted how the voiding of the target on Sigmon’s chest was instantaneously replaced by a vivid red mark, indicating the lethal impact of the bullets. Despite the chaos and violence, Collins recounted the eerie silence that followed, broken only by the arrival of a doctor for the posthumous examination.
Sigmon’s final words, framed with a plea for love and a call to end the death penalty, added a profound layer to the narrative, suggesting a moment of reflection and the complex emotions involved. In sharing his personal impact from the experience, Collins reflected on the lasting impression left by the sounds of gunfire and the visual reminder of Sigmon’s attempt to communicate with his lawyer moments before the execution. This firsthand account sheds light on the complexities of capital punishment and the lasting effects it has on all witnesses involved.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/08/south-carolina-firing-squad
