Stephen Bryant, a 44-year-old South Carolina death row inmate, has chosen firing squad execution for November 14, making him the third individual this year to select this method. His decision comes after a 13-year hiatus in the state’s executions due to the unavailability of lethal injection drugs, marking a pivotal shift in South Carolina’s approach to capital punishment. The state resumed executions in 2024, following an extended pause, and has seen a steady number of cases where lethal injection was chosen, with some cases opting for other methods.
Bryant’s case is notable not only for the method of execution but also for the gruesome nature of the crime. Convicted of fatally shooting Willard ‘TJ’ Tietjen in his home, Bryant is alleged to have burned the victim’s eyes with cigarettes and painted ‘catch me if u can’ on the wall using the victim’s blood. The crime scene was further marked by candles lit around the body and a potholder dipped in blood used to write additional messages on the wall. Tietjen’s daughter reportedly called the authorities six times before the final call, which was answered by a strange voice indicating the victim’s death.
Bryant’s legal team has argued that he was in distress before the killings, citing a history of trauma from childhood sexual abuse by four male relatives and subsequent reliance on drugs like meth and bug-spray-laced joints as coping mechanisms. However, prosecutors have alleged that Bryant shot and killed two other men in October 2004, one before and one after Tietjen’s death, during which he allegedly gave them rides and then shot them in the back as they relieved themselves on rural roads.
The legal implications of Bryant’s execution are significant, especially given the recent controversies over the firing squad method. Attorneys for the latest man executed by this method claimed executioners nearly missed the heart, leading to prolonged suffering. Witnesses reported several groans and more than a minute of struggle before the death, raising concerns about the method’s efficacy and ethical considerations. Prison officials have defended the procedure, stating that executioners need only hit the heart, not necessarily destroy it.
Since 1977, only three U.S. prisoners—in all cases from Utah—have been executed by firing squads. This year, 41 men have been executed nationwide, with at least 18 more scheduled. The use of firing squads in South Carolina has sparked discussions about the state’s approach to capital punishment and the broader implications for the U.S. justice system in handling such cases. As Bryant prepares for his execution, the case serves as a reminder of the complexities and controversies surrounding the death penalty in the United States.