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Convicted Killer Executed by Firing Squad in South Carolina
15 Nov
Summary
- South Carolina inmate executed by firing squad
- Convicted of three murders in 2004
- Chose firing squad over lethal injection or electric chair
On November 15, 2025, South Carolina inmate Stephen Bryant was executed by firing squad for the murders of three men in 2004. Bryant, 44, was pronounced dead at 6:05 p.m. at the Broad River Correctional Institution in Columbia.
Bryant had admitted to killing Willard "TJ" Tietjen in October 2004 after stopping by his secluded home and claiming to have car trouble. He also shot and killed two other men, one before and one after Tietjen, in the same month. Bryant chose to die by firing squad over lethal injection and the electric chair last month.
During the execution, Bryant made no final statement and briefly glanced toward the 10 witnesses before the hood was placed on his head. The execution was witnessed by three family members of the victims, who held hands. Bryant made no noise as the shots rang out, and he had a few shallow breaths and a final spasm a little over a minute later before being pronounced dead.
