South Carolina Executes Another Inmate by Firing Squad Amid Controversy

Sun Nov 16 2025 10:21:30 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Stephen Bryant, 44, is the third inmate executed by firing squad in South Carolina this year. His execution unfolds against a backdrop of legal dilemmas surrounding the death penalty and the state's troubling history with lethal injection.

In a dramatic and controversial event, Stephen Bryant became the latest inmate to be executed by firing squad in South Carolina. This marks the state's third execution by this method this year. Bryant, who was convicted of three murders in 2004, opted for the firing squad over lethal injection, reflecting ongoing issues surrounding the availability of execution drugs in the U.S. As debates over the death penalty continue to rise, the moral and ethical implications of such executions remain fiercely contested.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Stephen Bryant, 44, was executed by firing squad on Friday, marking the third execution by this method in South Carolina within a year. His execution was carried out by three prison employees who volunteered to use live ammunition. Bryant, who was convicted of killing three individuals in 2004, opted for this method over lethal injection or the electric chair, making no final statement prior to his death.

The execution took place at 6:05 p.m., and witnesses reported a pool of liquid forming on Bryant's chest following the gunfire. This event is part of a broader trend in South Carolina, which recently resumed executions after a 13-year hiatus attributed to difficulties in obtaining lethal injection drugs.

Bryant's final meal included a blend of seafood stir-fry, fried fish, and German chocolate cake. His lawyer, Bo King, emphasized the struggles of Bryant's formative years marked by abuse and addiction, portraying him as a complex figure deserving of compassion. The resumption of firing squad executions has drawn criticism for its brutality, with many advocating for more humane alternatives.

Since the death penalty was reinstated in the U.S. in 1976, no South Carolina governor has granted clemency in execution cases. With ongoing debates about the efficacy and morality of the death penalty, the recent spate of executions raises critical questions about justice and the criminal justice system's capacity to protect public safety.