A witness explains what he observed after a death row inmate was executed by a three-man firing squad

On Friday, 7 March, a rare and solemn event unfolded in South Carolina. Brad Sigmon, a 67-year-old death row inmate convicted for the brutal 2001 slayings of his ex-girlfriend’s parents, was executed by a three-man firing squad. This method, which has not been used in the United States for 15 years, was chosen by Sigmon over other means of capital punishment. He cited concerns regarding the uncertainty and potential delays associated with lethal injection—and the fear of a prolonged, agonizing death that he equated with being “burned and cooked alive” in the electric chair.

For more than two decades, Jeffrey Collins—a reporter with the Associated Press—has been present during executions in South Carolina, having witnessed 11 such events using three different methods. His account on this particular execution provides an unflinching look at the stark realities of capital punishment and offers insight into a practice that remains both controversial and rarely observed.

Background of the Execution

The Choice of Firing Squad

Brad Sigmon’s decision to be executed by firing squad was driven by his personal fears and uncertainties. While most inmates on death row opt for lethal injection, Sigmon’s apprehension regarding the drugs used in the process led him to choose an alternative method. He was concerned that the drugs might not act swiftly, potentially prolonging his suffering. In contrast, he viewed the firing squad as a more immediate—and in his estimation, more humane—method of execution.

South Carolina’s history with capital punishment is complex, with the state having used several methods over the years. The three-man firing squad, while rarely seen in recent times, remains a legally sanctioned method in certain circumstances. Sigmon’s case thus became notable not only for its tragic nature but also for its reintroduction of an execution style that had been absent from the national landscape for over a decade.

The Crime and Conviction

Sigmon’s conviction stemmed from the grisly murders he committed in 2001, when he brutally killed David and Gladys Larke, the parents of his ex-girlfriend, using a baseball bat. The violent nature of these crimes and the subsequent legal proceedings led to his placement on death row—a fate he ultimately accepted through his unconventional choice of execution method.

The Witness Account

Setting and Preparations

Jeffrey Collins, a seasoned reporter for the Associated Press, has covered executions in South Carolina for 21 years. On this particular day, he was on site to document the events surrounding Sigmon’s execution. With his extensive experience in this arena, Collins was prepared to observe every detail of the procedure. Prior to the execution, he described the inmate’s appearance and the setup in meticulous detail:

Sigmon was strapped into a specially designed chair. Unlike other executions that Collins had witnessed, Sigmon was dressed in a black jumpsuit and wore black, crocodile-like shoes. His restraints were comprehensive—a harness across his torso, additional straps over his head, and shackles binding his ankles. Moreover, he had a covering placed over his mouth. Most strikingly, a target was affixed over his heart, positioned prominently once the curtain separating him from the firing squad was drawn back.

The Moment of Execution

At approximately 6:08 pm, after Sigmon’s final statement was read and the hood was placed over his head, an employee opened a black pull shade that concealed the three volunteer shooters from the prison system. Collins recalled the intense tension that filled the air in the moments that followed.

“In those moments, it’s impossible to predict what you’re going to see,” Collins wrote in a reflective essay for the AP. “I had never before witnessed someone being shot so close and in such a direct manner.” With no warning or countdown, the three-man firing squad discharged their weapons. The silence that followed was punctuated only by the sharp crack of the rifles.

As the shots rang out, the white target with its red bullseye—visible on Sigmon’s chest against the backdrop of his black uniform—vanished almost instantly. Collins observed that Sigmon’s body flinched repeatedly, his chest moving in rapid, involuntary spasms. “A jagged red spot, roughly the size of a small fist, appeared where the shots hit,” Collins described. The violence of the moment was such that, aside from the echo of the rifles, no other sound broke the stillness of the execution chamber.

Within moments of the shots being fired, a doctor arrived on scene. After a brief examination lasting just over a minute, Sigmon was declared dead.

Reflections on the Execution Method

The Immediate Aftermath

Collins’s account underscores the stark differences between the firing squad and other methods of execution. In his words, “The firing squad is certainly faster—and more violent—than lethal injection. It is a far more tense and immediate method.” For Collins, who has witnessed multiple forms of capital punishment, the speed and raw brutality of the firing squad were profoundly affecting. He noted that his heart began pounding shortly after Sigmon’s final statement was read—a moment that marked the culmination of a long and deliberate legal process.

Comparative Analysis: Firing Squad Versus Lethal Injection

Capital punishment in the United States has long been a subject of intense debate. Lethal injection has become the predominant method in recent decades, yet concerns persist regarding the reliability and humaneness of the drugs involved. Sigmon’s explicit choice of a firing squad was a direct response to these concerns. He feared that lethal injections might result in prolonged suffering—an outcome he equated with the terror of “being burned and cooked alive” in an electric chair.

For those who oppose the death penalty on moral or ethical grounds, the firing squad presents an additional layer of horror. Its immediacy and the visual nature of the execution force viewers and society alike to confront the stark reality of state-sanctioned death. Collins’s vivid description offers a window into this reality, forcing an examination of what constitutes a “humane” death and the broader implications for justice and deterrence.

The Emotional Toll on Witnesses and Society

Witnessing an execution is an experience that leaves an indelible mark on those present. For Jeffrey Collins, who has seen multiple executions over two decades, each event adds to a growing body of experience that is both professional and deeply personal. His detailed account reveals not only the procedural elements of the execution but also the profound emotional impact it has on those who witness it. The rapid sequence of events—from the quiet moments of preparation to the explosive violence of the discharge of the rifles—highlights the inherent tension that pervades every aspect of capital punishment.

Furthermore, Collins’s reflections prompt broader questions about the nature of justice in modern society. How do we reconcile the need for accountability with the moral costs of state execution? What does it mean for a society to employ methods that are as visceral and immediate as a firing squad? These questions are not easily answered, but Collins’s narrative serves as a catalyst for ongoing debates surrounding the ethics and effectiveness of the death penalty.