South Carolina Set to Execute Inmate by Firing Squad in Landmark Case
Brad Keith Sigmon, convicted of the brutal 2001 murders of his ex-girlfriend’s parents, is scheduled to be executed by firing squad in South Carolina, marking a grim milestone. This will be the first execution by this method in the United States since 1977 and the first in the state’s modern history. The execution is scheduled for Friday at the Broad River Correctional Institute in Columbia.
Sigmon, 67, was found guilty of bludgeoning Gladys and David Larke to death with a baseball bat in their home in northwestern South Carolina. He chose the firing squad over lethal injection and the electric chair, both of which have faced legal challenges and availability issues. Sigmon has consistently admitted to the killings, even telling the jury at his trial, "Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I am guilty…I have no excuse for what I did. It’s my fault and I’m not trying to blame nobody else for it, and I’m sorry."
Rebecca Armstrong, Sigmon’s ex-girlfriend and the daughter of the victims, has spoken out for the first time in 24 years about the devastating impact of her parents’ murders. While she stated that Sigmon should be held accountable for his actions, she also expressed that she does not believe in the death penalty.
The Execution Process
According to the South Carolina Department of Corrections, the execution will proceed as follows: Sigmon will be strapped to a metal chair in a room that also houses the state’s electric chair. A hood will be placed over his head. A firing squad comprised of three volunteer corrections officers will stand behind a wall with an opening for their rifles, positioned 15 feet away. A member of the execution team will place a small aim point over his heart. After the warden reads the execution order, the team will fire their weapons. Once death is declared, a curtain will be drawn, and witnesses will be escorted out. Witnesses, including family members of both Sigmon and the victims, media representatives, attorneys, and prison staff, will observe the execution through bullet-resistant glass installed between the death chamber and the witness room.
The Heinous Crime
On April 27, 2001, Sigmon went to the Larke’s home with the intention of tying them up and kidnapping Armstrong, a plan he conceived while using crack cocaine the previous night. However, his plan quickly spiraled into unspeakable violence. He beat David and Gladys Larke to death with a baseball bat, striking each of them nine times. Following the murders, Sigmon kidnapped Armstrong but she managed to escape by jumping out of the moving vehicle. Before she could flee completely, Sigmon shot her once in the foot before his gun ran out of bullets.
During his 2002 trial, Sigmon admitted that Armstrong’s rejection "set me off." He confessed to being obsessed with her and stated, "Did I love her? More than anything else in the world." He even acknowledged that the death penalty might be appropriate in his case, expressing remorse and a desire to live for his family’s sake.
The Victims’ Family Speaks Out
The trial also featured emotional testimony from David and Gladys Larke’s children, who spoke of their profound grief and the irreplaceable void left by their parents’ deaths. Darrell Larke described his parents as the foundation of his life, teaching him valuable skills and instilling a sense of responsibility. Armstrong described her parents as simple, kind-hearted individuals who were devoted to their family. They were the glue of the family, she said, and they had missed out on the births of numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren since their tragic deaths.
Armstrong’s son, Ricky Sims, plans to attend the execution wearing a pair of boots that were the last gift he received from his grandparents. He asserted that Sigmon would "pay for what he’s done," emphasizing the profound loss experienced by the family. He said, "They didn’t deserve it".
Sigmon’s Defense and History
Prior to the murders, Sigmon was described by his attorney, Gerald "Bo" King, as a hardworking and caring individual who supported his siblings from a young age. King argued that Sigmon suffered from an undiagnosed mental illness that caused irrational and impulsive behavior, which he attempted to self-medicate with drugs. He further claimed that Sigmon experienced a psychotic break and that the jury was unaware of the severity of his mental health issues, raising questions about his competency to stand trial.
Armstrong revealed that she and Sigmon were close friends for five years before their romantic relationship began, lasting another five years. She acknowledged his anger issues but never imagined him capable of such extreme violence.
According to King, Sigmon has undergone a transformation in prison, becoming a repentant and devout man who serves as an informal chaplain to his fellow inmates and a source of support to his family. King also highlighted Sigmon’s declining health and argued that he poses no threat to anyone.
The Use of Firing Squads in the United States
Five states, including South Carolina, Mississippi, Utah, Oklahoma, and Idaho, have legalized firing squads as a method of execution. The last execution by firing squad in the U.S. occurred in 2010 in Utah, when Ronnie Lee Gardner was executed for murder. Previous firing squad executions took place in Utah in 1977 and 1996.
An Associated Press reporter who witnessed Gardner’s execution described how five volunteer prison staff members fired at him from a distance of 25 feet with .30-caliber rifles, aiming at a target placed over his chest. To ensure anonymity, one of the rifles contained a blank round.
Controversies and Opposition
Sigmon’s attorney has condemned the upcoming execution as a "barbaric, state-sanctioned atrocity," arguing that the choice of method is inherently cruel. He urged the public to be not just horrified but furious.
The execution of Brad Keith Sigmon by firing squad is a controversial event that raises complex questions about capital punishment, mental health, and the role of the state in administering justice. It marks a dark chapter in South Carolina’s history and highlights the ongoing debate surrounding the most humane and appropriate methods of execution.
