South Carolina Death Row Inmate Chooses Firing Squad for Execution

Sat Nov 01 2025 01:14:22 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Stephen Bryant, sentenced to death for a series of brutal killings, opts for firing squad execution set for November 14. His decision could spark legal challenges following previous controversies surrounding this method.

Stephen Bryant, a convicted murderer on death row in South Carolina, has chosen to die by firing squad, becoming the third inmate to do so in the state this year. His execution is scheduled for November 14, 2025. Bryant was convicted for the 2004 murder of Willard 'TJ' Tietjen, where he allegedly displayed a mocking taunt written in blood. There is potential for legal disputes surrounding the execution method due to concerns raised from previous firing squad executions, which faced scrutiny regarding their conduct and outcomes.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Stephen Bryant, a death row inmate in South Carolina, has chosen to be executed by firing squad. The execution is set for November 14, 2025, making him the third person this year to opt for this method since it was reintroduced in the state.

Bryant, 44, is on death row for the brutal murder of Willard 'TJ' Tietjen in 2004. Following the murder, Bryant reportedly left taunting messages on the wall written in Tietjen’s blood. Prosecutors revealed that he has been linked to the deaths of two other men during that time, creating a sense of fear in Sumter County.

There are concerns regarding the method of execution, particularly after issues arose during the recent executions of inmates by firing squad. Attorneys for a previous inmate argued that their client experienced significant pain when he was shot, which raises questions about the firing squad's reliability as a humane method of execution.

The controversies surrounding executions by firing squad have escalated, especially after witnesses reported prolonged suffering during a recent execution. Experts have criticized the practices of the shooters, suggesting that poor marksmanship may have contributed to the pain experienced by the inmate.

Since 1977, only a handful of executions have been carried out by firing squad in the U.S., primarily in Utah; this marks a significant step for South Carolina, which struggled to procure the necessary drugs for lethal injections for years.

Calling upon his troubled past, Bryant's defense team had previously tried to argue that his mental state was severely impacted by childhood trauma, claiming this influenced his violent behavior. Nevertheless, his criminal actions culminated in the brutal killing of Tietjen, who was found with candles lit around his body and a gruesome taunt inscribed on the wall.

The intensity of Bryant’s case and the subsequent developments will be closely monitored as South Carolina moves forward with its approach to capital punishment.