In a historic event, South Carolina executed inmate Brad Keith Sigmon by firing squad, becoming the first state in the US to carry out such an execution in over a decade and a half. The execution process involved a team of volunteer shooters and was carried out under strict protocols. Sigmon, who was on death row for the murder of a couple, had exhausted his legal appeals, leading to the completion of the execution. This event has reignited debates over the methods of capital punishment in the US, with some arguing that firing squads are more humane than lethal injection, while others express concerns about the barbarity of the practice. Protests from activists and family members of victims precede the execution, highlighting the ongoing controversy surrounding the death penalty.