In a grim turn of events for the state’s capital-punishment system, South Carolina death-row inmate Stephen Bryant has formally chosen to be executed by firing squad. The execution is scheduled for November 14, 2025.
Background & Crimes
Bryant, now aged 44, pleaded guilty to a series of murders committed in October 2004 in Sumter County. Prosecutors say he fatally shot several men, including Willard “TJ” Tietjen, whose body was found in his home after being tortured: his eyes were burned with cigarettes and a message in his blood said “victim 4 in 2 weeks. catch me if u can”.
Defense attorneys for Bryant point to his traumatic upbringing — alleging childhood sexual abuse by relatives and substance-use disorders as contributing factors. They have raised questions about his mental state.
Significance of the Firing Squad Choice
Bryant’s decision makes him the third inmate this year in South Carolina to opt for execution by firing squad following a 13-year hiatus in the state’s use of capital punishment. The state reinstated executions in late 2024.
Under state law, condemned inmates must choose between lethal injection, firing squad, or the electric chair. Failing to choose defaults them to the electric chair.
Legal & Ethical Concerns
The revival and expansion of firing-squad executions have sparked controversy. Legal filings in previous cases argued that bullet placement was imprecise and may have caused unnecessary suffering. For instance, in a prior firing-squad execution in South Carolina, attorneys claimed the shooter missed the heart, prolonging death agony.
What’s Next
- Appeals remaining: Bryant’s lawyers have raised issues of mental injury, childhood trauma and whether his selection of method forecloses certain legal claims.
- Execution protocol scrutiny: With the firing squad method gaining renewed use, human-rights organizations and legal observers will likely monitor the procedure’s conduct and fairness.
- Broader implications: The case highlights both the state’s aggressive move to resume executions and the ethical questions surrounding modern use of archaic methods like firing squads.
