Controversy Erupts Over Firing Squad Executions in South Carolina

Sun Nov 16 2025 09:49:33 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The recent execution of Stephen Bryant by firing squad raises ethical concerns and brings attention to the controversial nature of capital punishment methods in the state.

In this troubling report, we explore the execution of Stephen Bryant in South Carolina, the ethical implications of using a firing squad as a method of capital punishment, and the personal history that led to his death. With the state's return to executions after a 13-year pause, Bryant's case has ignited a significant debate on the morality of the death penalty and the methods used to carry it out.

COLUMBIA, S.C. — In a striking case that has reignited debates over capital punishment, South Carolina executed Stephen Bryant using a firing squad on Friday, marking a significant moment in the state's approach to the death penalty.

Bryant, the third person executed in the state by this method in 2023, chose death by firing squad over lethal injection or the electric chair. He was pronounced dead shortly after 6 p.m. following a series of shots fired by three prison employees. Family members of his victims were present during the execution, a poignant reminder of the lives impacted by his actions.

The state of South Carolina had previously halted executions for 13 years due to difficulties in obtaining lethal injection drugs, only resuming in September 2024. Since then, the state has executed seven individuals, highlighting the revival of firing squads as a legal method amid botched lethal injections and drug shortages.

During his last meal, Bryant requested spicy mixed seafood stir-fry, fried fish, and German chocolate cake. Legal representatives noted his troubled past, detailing a history of genetic disorders and childhood trauma that contributed to his behavior and subsequent crimes.

Critics of the method, including Bo King, Bryant's lawyer, describe the executions as 'brutal and shameful,' arguing that they do not contribute to greater safety or justice in the state. The firing squad has a long and disturbing history globally and in the U.S., raising concerns about its ethical implications as a means of execution.

Bryant was convicted for a series of murder cases in 2004, including killing three individuals in a rural area of South Carolina. This violent history underscores the complex intersections of justice and mercy in cases involving capital punishment.

As debates continue on the ethics of firing squads, the memory of individuals like Bryant will linger, raising essential questions about justice, accountability, and the human experience surrounding capital punishment.