South Carolina convicted double murderer Brad Sigmon was executed by firing squad today. Officials say he is the first person executed by firing squad in the U.S. in 15 years.
South Carolina Department of Corrections Press Release Re: Brad Sigmon Execution
March 7, 2025
For immediate release
Contact: Chrysti Shain, (803) 413-8206
COLUMBIA, S.C. – The capital punishment sentence of Brad Keith Sigmon was carried out tonight, pursuant to the order of the S.C. Supreme Court and in accordance with state law.
The execution was performed by a three-person firing squad at 6:05 p.m. He was pronounced dead by a physician at 6:08 p.m.
Sigmon, 67, was sentenced to death in 2002 for murder and burglary in the deaths of David and Gladys Larke. Sigmon used a baseball bat to beat the Larkes to death in their Greenville County home on April 27, 2001.
Sigmon’s last statement was read to witnesses by his attorney and is attached.
Witnesses to the execution included:
• Three members of the Larke family,
• A representative from the prosecuting solicitor’s office,
• A representative from the Greenville Sheriff’s Department,
• Sigmon’s attorney,
• Sigmon’s spiritual advisor,
• And three members of the news media.
Sigmon’s specially requested meal was four pieces of fried chicken, green beans, mashed potatoes with gravy, biscuits, cheesecake and sweet tea. It was served Wednesday evening.
I want my closing statement to be one of love and a calling to my fellow Christians to help us end the death penalty.
An eye for an eye was used as justification to the jury for seeking the death penalty.
At that time, I was too ignorant to know how wrong that was. Why? Because we no longer live under the Old Testament law but now live under the New Testament.
Matthew 5:38-39 says “You have heard that it has been said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth’ but I say unto you that you do not resist an evil person. Whosoever shall smite me on the right cheek, turn to him the other one as well.”
Romans 6:14, “For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are no longer under the law but under grace.”
Nowhere does God in the New Testament give man the authority to kill another man.
That is why the Bible is divided into the Old and New Testaments.
Remember the words of Jesus, John 7:19, “Did not Moses give you the law? Yet none of you keep with the law.”
We are now under God’s grace and mercy.