South Carolina to carry out Execution by Firing Squad
The History of Execution by Firing Squad
Execution by firing squad has been a method of capital punishment for centuries, often associated with military justice and wartime executions. It has been used globally, particularly in times of war, when it was considered a swift and efficient way to carry out sentences.
The Civil War and Military Executions
During the American Civil War (1861–1865), execution by firing squad was a common form of military punishment, primarily used for desertion, mutiny, and espionage. The Union and Confederate armies both employed this method, often making executions public as a deterrent to others.
One of the most well-known cases was the execution of William Johnson, a Union Army private, who was shot for desertion in 1864. While thousands of soldiers were court-martialed for desertion, many had their sentences commuted to imprisonment. However, approximately 500 Union soldiers were executed, with the majority facing the firing squad. The Confederacy also executed deserters, often carrying out sentences swiftly in the field.
World War II and Firing Squad Executions
During World War II (1939–1945), firing squads were used extensively by multiple nations, both as a form of military justice and as a tool of political terror. The United States military executed at least one soldier, Eddie Slovik, by firing squad for desertion—the only American soldier to be executed for that offense since the Civil War. Meanwhile, Nazi Germany, the Soviet Union, and Japan used firing squads to eliminate prisoners of war, spies, and political dissidents.
The Nazis frequently used firing squads as part of mass executions, particularly in occupied territories. In contrast, the Soviet Union carried out executions both in war zones and in purges, with firing squads used against perceived enemies of the state. In the Pacific theater, the Imperial Japanese Army used the method on captured soldiers and resistance fighters.
Despite the brutality of firing squads, they were seen as a more “honorable” form of execution compared to hanging, especially for military personnel. Many countries phased out the practice in the latter half of the 20th century, but some, including the United States, have retained it as an alternative form of execution.
The Execution of Andriza Mircovich
America’s First Firing Squad Execution of a Death Row Inmate
In 1913, Nevada executed Andriza Mircovich, a Montenegrin immigrant, for murdering John Gregovich in Tonopah. The two men had a long-standing feud. Their conflict turned deadly when Mircovich stabbed Gregovich to death in 1912.
A court convicted Mircovich of first-degree murder and sentenced him to death by firing squad. But there was a problem—no one was willing to pull the trigger. Nevada law required a firing squad, but no volunteers came forward.
The state built a shooting machine to carry out the execution. The device held three rifles mounted on a frame, all linked to a trigger mechanism. On May 14, 1913, prison officials strapped Mircovich to a chair. A guard pulled the lever, firing the rifles into his heart. He died instantly.
This was the first and only time a machine executed a prisoner in the U.S. In 1921, Nevada switched from firing squads to the gas chamber.
The Execution of John W. Deering
A Scientific Experiment in Death
On October 31, 1938, Utah executed John W. Deering by firing squad. He had been convicted of murdering Ralph Rushton during a robbery. Unlike most prisoners, Deering welcomed his execution. He even offered his body for scientific study.
Doctors used the opportunity to monitor his heart during the execution. They attached an electrocardiogram (EKG) to his chest to record his heartbeat in real-time. When the rifles fired, the machine showed his heart stopped in 15.6 seconds.
Deering also donated his body to science after death. His execution became one of the first recorded studies of how a human heart reacts to sudden trauma.
His case remains a rare and eerie blend of capital punishment and medical research.
The Execution of James W. Rodgers
A Final Joke Before Death
On March 30, 1960, Utah executed James W. Rodgers by firing squad. He had been convicted of murdering a mine worker during a robbery.
Before the execution, officials asked if he had a final request. Rodgers replied, “Bring me a bulletproof vest.” His dark humor made headlines, but the request was denied.
Officials strapped him to a chair at Utah State Prison. A target was placed over his heart. When the rifles fired, he died instantly.
Rodgers’ execution was the last by firing squad in the U.S. for nearly two decades.
The Execution of Gary Gilmore
The Return of the Firing Squad
On January 17, 1977, Utah executed Gary Gilmore by firing squad. He had murdered Max Jensen and Ben Bushnell in two separate robberies.
Gilmore refused to appeal his death sentence. He even demanded his execution take place as soon as possible. His case ended a ten-year moratorium on the death penalty in the U.S.
Officials strapped him to a chair at Utah State Prison. A hood covered his face. A target marked his heart. When asked for last words, he said, “Let’s do it.” Five riflemen fired. He died instantly.
His execution inspired books, films, and even Nike’s slogan, “Just Do It.”
The Execution of John Albert Taylor
Choosing the Firing Squad
On January 26, 1996, Utah executed John Albert Taylor for raping and murdering 11-year-old Charla King in 1989.
Taylor had the option to die by lethal injection or firing squad. He chose the firing squad to make a statement against the death penalty. Some believed he wanted to cause controversy and keep the method in the public eye.
Officials secured him to a chair at Utah State Prison. A hood covered his face. A target marked his heart. At 12:03 a.m., five riflemen fired. He died instantly.
Taylor’s execution was the last by firing squad in the 20th century.
The Execution of Ronnie Lee Gardner
The Last Firing Squad Execution in the U.S.
On June 18, 2010, Utah executed Ronnie Lee Gardner by firing squad. He had been convicted of killing attorney Michael Burdell during an escape attempt at a courthouse in 1985.
Gardner spent 25 years on death row. When given a choice, he selected the firing squad over lethal injection. He said it was the most “humane” option.
Officials strapped him to a chair at Utah State Prison. A black hood covered his head. A white target was pinned over his heart. At 12:15 a.m., five riflemen fired. He died instantly.
The Upcoming Execution of Brad Keith Sigmon
The Crime
On April 27, 2001, Brad Keith Sigmon murdered his ex-girlfriend’s parents, William David Larke (62) and Gladys Gwendolyn Larke (59), in South Carolina. After his relationship with Rebecca Barbare ended, Sigmon became obsessed and confrontational. He entered the Larkes’ home and fatally beat both with a baseball bat. He then kidnapped Barbare at gunpoint, but she escaped unharmed.
Legal Proceedings and Appeals
In July 2002, a jury convicted Sigmon of two counts of murder and first-degree burglary, sentencing him to death. His appeals, citing issues like mental health and drug problems, were denied by state and federal courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court.
Scheduled Execution and Method
South Carolina scheduled Sigmon’s execution for March 7, 2025. Given the choice between lethal injection, electric chair, or firing squad, he selected the firing squad due to concerns about the efficacy and transparency of the state’s lethal injection protocols.
Legal Challenges
Sigmon’s attorneys have filed motions to postpone the execution, seeking more information about the state’s execution procedures, especially regarding lethal injection drugs. They argue that without this information, Sigmon cannot make an informed decision about his execution method.
If carried out, Sigmon’s execution will be the first by firing squad in the U.S. since 2010.
A Relic of the Past in Modern America
It feels almost surreal to think that death by firing squad is still a legal form of execution in the United States. The method conjures images of historical battlefields, wartime spies, and frontier justice, not modern-day America. Much like France and the guillotine, the idea of lining up a firing squad to carry out a sentence seems antiquated, a relic of a different era.
Yet, on March 7th, 2025, South Carolina plans to do just that. If the execution proceeds, Brad Keith Sigmon will become the first person executed by firing squad in the U.S. in 15 years. The case has already sparked legal and ethical debates, raising questions about the future of capital punishment in America.
As the scheduled execution date approaches, I will continue to follow updates on the case. Stay tuned for further developments.
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