In brief
Stephen Bryant, 44, was executed by firing squad in South Carolina, making him the seventh person executed since the resumption of state death penalties after a 13-year hiatus. He chose this method over lethal injection or the electric chair and showed no reaction during the execution. Bryant's lawyer described a troubled past marked by abuse and mentioned the brutality of recent executions in the state. This marks the increasingly contentious debate surrounding death penalty methods in the U.S.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A South Carolina firing squad executed Stephen Bryant on Friday, marking only the third such execution in the state this year.
Three prison employees with live ammunition volunteered to perform the execution. Bryant, aged 44, had been convicted of murdering three individuals over five days in a rural area back in 2004.
Opting for the firing squad over lethal injection or the electric chair, Bryant made no final statement before a hood was placed on his head and the execution proceeded. He was pronounced dead shortly after the shots were fired.
Witnesses reported that a pool of wetness appeared on Bryant's chest post-execution, and family members of his victims held hands during the event.
This event marks a notable resurgence in South Carolina's execution practices after a 13-year pause caused by difficulties in obtaining lethal injection drugs.
Bryant chose to die by firing squad, with Republican Governor Henry McMaster denying any clemency. The method has witnessed a revival amid concerns over lethal injection controversies and has become a preferred alternative for some lawmakers.
In his final meal, Bryant had a spread that included spicy seafood stir-fry and German chocolate cake, ahead of his execution. His lawyer indicated that Bryant suffered from a sad history of abuse and impairment, which may have contributed to his violent actions.
Bryant's killings, which included shooting Willard “TJ” Tietjen, were described as cold and calculated, as he preyed on unsuspecting individuals under false pretenses.
Overall, Bryant is the 50th person executed in South Carolina since the state's death penalty resumed 40 years ago.
