On a Friday evening, Jeffrey Collins, a seasoned journalist with 21 years of experience, witnessed the execution of Brad Sigmon by firing squad in South Carolina. Sigmon's decision to face the firing squad came amidst concerns over the clarity of the drugs used in lethal injections. South Carolina's death row inmates now have the option to choose their method of death, with alternatives including the electric chair, lethal injection, or firing squad. Sigmon, who became the oldest person to be executed in the state's history, was declared dead at 6:08 p.m.
The execution was part of a series of rapid executions pursued by South Carolina over the last six months. Three volunteer shooters from the prison service formed the firing squad that carried out Sigmon's execution. Collins, who had witnessed 11 executions in the state, described this experience as one that would remain etched in his mind.
“I won’t forget the crack of the rifles Friday and that target disappearing. Also etched in my mind: Sigmon talking or mouthing toward his lawyer, trying to let him know he was OK before the hood went on,” said Collins.
Sigmon, in his final statement, expressed a message of love and urged fellow Christians to work towards ending the death penalty. He also reflected on the justification for his sentence.
“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,” Sigmon stated.
Collins had prepared for this assignment by reviewing autopsy photos of the last man shot by a firing squad in Utah in 2010. Despite extensive preparation, witnessing an execution is an unpredictable experience.
“It’s impossible to know what to expect when you’ve never seen someone shot at close range right in front of you,” Collins remarked.
The execution process was swift and intense. There was no countdown or warning before the rifles fired. The abrupt sound startled Collins and left a lasting impression.
“About two minutes later, they fired. There was no warning or countdown. The abrupt crack of the rifles startled me. And the white target with the red bullseye that had been on his chest, standing out against his black prison jumpsuit, disappeared instantly as Sigmon’s whole body flinched,” Collins recounted.
Collins noted that compared to lethal injection, the firing squad is both faster and more violent. The tension in the room was palpable, and even as a seasoned journalist, he found his heart racing during Sigmon's final moments.
“The firing squad is certainly faster – and more violent – than lethal injection. It’s a lot more tense, too. My heart started pounding a little after Sigmon’s lawyer read his final statement,” Collins admitted.