COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — In a significant event in the ongoing debate over capital punishment, South Carolina executed Stephen Bryant on Friday, marking the third execution by firing squad in the state this year. Volunteers from the prison staff, equipped with live ammunition, carried out the execution of Bryant, who was 44 years old at the time of his death.
Bryant was given a death sentence for the brutal murders he committed in 2004, resulting in three fatalities over the span of just five days in a rural area of South Carolina. Prior to his execution, Bryant chose the firing squad as his method of execution, opting out of lethal injection or the electric chair.
Witnesses reported that as the execution commenced, the shots fired pierced through the designated target placed over Bryant's heart, leading to his death shortly after. He made no final statement, and a pool of blood was noted in the aftermath of the shooting.
Since the resumption of executions in South Carolina after a 13-year hiatus due to a shortage of lethal injection drugs, a total of seven inmates have been executed. There is a growing concern surrounding the continuation of the death penalty system; critics, including Bryant's lawyer, Bo King, have described the recent executions as 'brutal and shameful,' asserting that they do not contribute to public safety or justice.
Bryant's troubled history was highlighted prior to his execution, with King noting that he was a victim of significant abuse and a genetic disorder that profoundly affected his mental state. Before his execution, Bryant requested a final meal that included spicy mixed seafood and German chocolate cake.
The case brings forth the ongoing discussion about the methods of execution in the U.S., particularly the firing squad, which has been described by some lawmakers as a more humane alternative due to issues surrounding lethal injection drugs. Advocates for prison reform continue to call for an end to capital punishment, suggesting that it fails to serve its intended purpose in creating safer communities.
Bryant was given a death sentence for the brutal murders he committed in 2004, resulting in three fatalities over the span of just five days in a rural area of South Carolina. Prior to his execution, Bryant chose the firing squad as his method of execution, opting out of lethal injection or the electric chair.
Witnesses reported that as the execution commenced, the shots fired pierced through the designated target placed over Bryant's heart, leading to his death shortly after. He made no final statement, and a pool of blood was noted in the aftermath of the shooting.
Since the resumption of executions in South Carolina after a 13-year hiatus due to a shortage of lethal injection drugs, a total of seven inmates have been executed. There is a growing concern surrounding the continuation of the death penalty system; critics, including Bryant's lawyer, Bo King, have described the recent executions as 'brutal and shameful,' asserting that they do not contribute to public safety or justice.
Bryant's troubled history was highlighted prior to his execution, with King noting that he was a victim of significant abuse and a genetic disorder that profoundly affected his mental state. Before his execution, Bryant requested a final meal that included spicy mixed seafood and German chocolate cake.
The case brings forth the ongoing discussion about the methods of execution in the U.S., particularly the firing squad, which has been described by some lawmakers as a more humane alternative due to issues surrounding lethal injection drugs. Advocates for prison reform continue to call for an end to capital punishment, suggesting that it fails to serve its intended purpose in creating safer communities.
