Stephen Bryant, a death row inmate in South Carolina convicted of murder, has selected firing squad as his method of execution. The state allows inmates to choose between lethal injection, the electric chair, or firing squad, with Bryant opting for the latter, the newest execution method in South Carolina. His execution is scheduled for November 14.

Bryant will be the third individual this year executed by firing squad in the state, a process involving three volunteers shooting him from 15 feet away. A legal challenge is anticipated following the recent botched execution of another inmate, whose attorneys claimed executioners nearly missed his heart, causing prolonged suffering. Witnesses reported the inmate groaned for over a minute before dying. Prison officials stated executioners only need to hit the heart, not destroy it.

Since 1977, only three U.S. prisoners—all in Utah—have been executed by firing squad. This year, 41 men have been put to death nationwide, with at least 18 more scheduled. Bryant’s case involves a 2004 crime spree in Sumter County, where he killed Willard “TJ” Tietjen after claiming car trouble. Tietjen was shot multiple times, and his body was surrounded by candles. A potholder made by Tietjen’s daughter was dipped in blood to write “victem 4 in 2 weeks. catch me if u can” on the wall. Bryant also murdered two other men he gave rides to, shooting them in the back as they urinated on rural roads.

Bryant admitted to the killings and described his actions during a 2004 investigation. Prosecutors highlighted the brutality of his crimes, including burning Tietjen’s eyes with cigarettes. His defense attorneys cited his troubled mental state, claiming he sought help for childhood sexual abuse trauma but turned to drugs. Bryant’s execution will mark the 50th in South Carolina since the death penalty’s reinstatement 40 years ago. The state currently has 27 inmates on death row, with no clemencies ever granted.