Stephen Bryant chooses firing squad execution in South Carolina

A South Carolina dying row inmate convicted greater than twenty years in the past of killing a person and writing a message to investigators with the sufferer’s blood was chosen to die by firing squad on Friday.

Stephen Bryant, 44, will probably be executed on Nov. 14, making him the third man this 12 months to die by South Carolina’s latest execution methodology, in accordance with a report by the Related Press.

Bryant had till Friday to decide on whether or not he wished to die by deadly injection, a firing squad or the electrical chair.

South Carolina resumed executions in 2024 after a 13-year involuntary pause attributable to issues acquiring deadly injection medication. Since then, 4 prisoners opted for deadly injection and two died by firing squad.

Stephen Corey Bryant listens as his lawyer presents his closing argument throughout Bryant’s sentencing listening to Tuesday on the Sumter County Courtroom Home. (AP)

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Bryant admitted to fatally capturing Willard “TJ” Tietjen in his dwelling, burning his eyes with cigarettes and portray “catch me in the event you can” on the wall with Tietjen’s blood.

Candles have been lit round Tietjen’s physique and the nook of a potholder was dipped in Tietjen’s blood and officers say “sufferer 4 in 2 weeks. Catch me in the event you can” was written on the wall.

Tietjen’s daughter known as him six occasions and advised investigators. Over the last telephone name, an odd voice answered that they’d killed Tietjen.

The state dying chamber in Columbia, SC, with the electrical chair, proper, and a firing squad chair, left. (South Carolina Division of Corrections through AP)

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Prosecutors alleged that Bryant additionally shot two different males in October 2004, one earlier than Tietjen’s dying and one afterward.

Bryant was accused of taking the lads for a experience and capturing them within the again whereas they have been relieving themselves alongside rural roads.

Bryant’s attorneys stated he was distressed earlier than the killings and repeatedly requested for assist as he struggled with trauma from being sexually abused as a toddler by 4 male relations, the report stated. He allegedly tried to manage via drug use, together with meth and bug spray-laced joints.

Loss of life row inmates who select dying by firing squad are shot from 15 ft away. (AP)

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Bryant will probably be shot by three volunteers, 16 ft away.

A authorized battle is prone to observe the execution, as attorneys for the most recent man killed by firing squad claimed the executioners practically missed his coronary heart, inflicting extended struggling.

Witnesses reported a number of groans from the dying row inmate, with him taking greater than a minute to die, in accordance with the newspaper. Jail officers stated executioners solely have to hit the center and never destroy it.

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Since 1977, solely three American prisoners – all in Utah – have been executed by firing squad. This 12 months, 41 males have been executed nationwide, and not less than 18 extra are deliberate, in accordance with the report.

Landon Mion of Fox Information Digital and Related Press contributed to this report.