COLUMBIA, S.C. – In a controversial turn of events, South Carolina executed 44-year-old Stephen Bryant by firing squad on Friday, becoming the third inmate to die by this method in the state this year.
Three prison employees volunteered to carry out the execution, with Bryant pronounced dead at 6:05 p.m. He had previously chosen the firing squad over lethal injection or the electric chair, making no final statement before the execution.
Witnesses reported a tense atmosphere as the execution unfolded with the gunshots ringing out just under a minute after the hood was placed over his head. A pool of blood was noted on his chest post-execution, and family members of his victims held hands in solidarity during the procedure.
This marks the seventh execution in South Carolina over the past 14 months, following a 13-year pause in executions due to difficulties in obtaining lethal injection drugs. Governor Henry McMaster’s office confirmed he denied clemency for Bryant, reflecting the state's unchanged stance on capital punishment since its revival in the U.S. in 1976.
For his last meal, Bryant requested a hearty selection including spicy mixed seafood stir-fry, egg rolls, and German chocolate cake. Observers noted that Bryant's past was marked by trauma, including genetic disorders and abuse, which contributed to his troubled life and subsequent crimes.
Debates surrounding the firing squad method continue, with some considering it a humane alternative to lethal injection amid ongoing struggles to find suitable drug supplies. Critics mention the historical injustices of firing squad executions and raise concerns about their brutality and the moral implications of capital punishment.
Bryant's 2004 spree involved the brutal murders of three men, one of whom he reportedly taunted by answering their phone after the attack. As the state navigates public sentiment and legislative challenges surrounding the death penalty, the implications of this latest execution resonate deeply within the broader context of reform and justice.
