South Carolina death row inmate Stephen Bryant chooses firing squad execution after admitting to gruesome murder

A South Carolina death row inmate convicted of killing a man and writing a message to investigators with the victim’s blood more than 20 years ago elected on Friday to die by firing squad.

Stephen Bryant, 44, will be executed Nov. 14, making him the third man this year to die by South Carolina’s newest execution method, according to a report from the Associated Press.

Bryant had until Friday to choose if he wanted to die by lethal injection, firing squad or the electric chair.

South Carolina resumed executions in 2024 after an involuntary 13-year pause due to trouble obtaining lethal injection drugs.

Since then, four inmates selected lethal injection and two died by firing squad.

Bryant admitted to fatally shooting Willard “TJ” Tietjen in his home, burning his eyes with cigarettes and painting “catch me if u can” on the wall with Tietjen’s blood.

Candles were lit around Tietjen’s body and the corner of a potholder was dipped in Tietjen’s blood and used to write “victem 4 in 2 weeks. catch me if u can” on a wall, according to officials.

Tietjen’s daughter called him six times, telling investigators on the final call, a strange voice answered and told her they killed Tietjen.

Prosecutors alleged Bryant also shot and killed two other men in October 2004, one prior to Tietjen’s death and one after.

Bryant was accused of giving the men rides and shooting them in the back as they were relieving themselves on the side of rural roads.