COLUMBIA, S.C. — A death row inmate in South Carolina has chosen to die by firing squad, setting the date for his execution as Nov. 14. Stephen Bryant, 44, was convicted over two decades ago for the brutal killing of Willard “TJ” Tietjen, a crime that shocked the community with its gruesome details.
Bryant’s decision marks him as the third inmate this year to opt for South Carolina’s recently reinstated execution method. After a 13-year hiatus in executions due to challenges in obtaining lethal injection drugs, the state resumed carrying out capital punishment in 2024.
In the case against Bryant, he admitted to fatally shooting Tietjen in his home, where he committed additional acts of violence before leaving a chilling message on the wall with the victim’s blood. Law enforcement said that candles were placed around Tietjen’s body, and a bloody message reading “catch me if u can” was scrawled nearby, amplifying the horror of the crime.
Officials revealed that Tietjen’s daughter desperately tried to reach him in the moments before his death. When she called for the sixth time, an unfamiliar voice replied, claiming that her father had been killed. Adding to the severity of Bryant’s offenses, he was also charged with murdering two others within a short span in 2004. Prosecutors alleged that in both cases, he shot the victims in the back in isolated areas after offering them rides.
Defense attorneys characterized Bryant as a deeply troubled individual, citing a history of trauma stemming from childhood sexual abuse. They argued that he had been struggling with mental health issues and substance abuse, which contributed to his violent acts.
In a significant detail regarding his execution method, Bryant will face three volunteers who will fire at him from a distance of 15 feet. This method has raised ethical concerns, particularly after reports surfaced surrounding the execution of another inmate executed by firing squad earlier this year. Witnesses claimed that the process resulted in audible suffering and delays, raising questions about the efficacy and humanity of such methods in capital punishment.
Prison officials clarified that executioners are only required to strike the heart, which does not necessarily need to be destroyed in the process. The use of firing squads remains a rarity in the United States, with only three executions carried out this way since 1977, all in Utah.
As the legal system braces for scrutiny over the upcoming execution, Bryant’s case highlights ongoing debates about the death penalty itself, alongside the ethical considerations of specific execution methods. With 41 executions already reported this year across the nation and more scheduled in the coming months, the spotlight on capital punishment continues to illuminate the complexities of justice in America.