South Carolina sentenced Richard Moore to death by lethal injection Friday for the 1999 murder of a store clerk, despite a broad appeal for leniency by parties including three jurors and the judge at his trial , a former prison director, pastors and members of his family.
Moore, 59, was pronounced dead at 6:24 p.m.
Moore was convicted of murdering Spartanburg employee James Mahoney in September 1999 and sentenced to death two years later.
Moore entered the store unarmed, took the victim's gun when it was pointed at him, and shot him in the chest as the victim shot him with a second gun in the arm.
Mr. Moore's lawyers asked Republican Gov. Henry McMaster to reduce his sentence to life without parole, because of his clean record and his willingness to serve as a mentor to other inmates.
They also said it would be unfair to execute someone for what could be considered self-defense and that it was unfair that Moore, who was black, was the only inmate on Death Row. the State to have been convicted by a jury that included no African-Americans.
But Mr McMaster refused to grant clemency. In a letter, he did not give the reason, but indicated that he had reviewed all the materials submitted by Mr. Moore's lawyers and had spoken with the victim's family.
No South Carolina governor has reduced a death sentence, and 45 executions have taken place in the state since the U.S. Supreme Court allowed states to resume executing death row inmates nearly 50 years old.
Unlike previous executions, the death chamber curtain was open when media witnesses arrived. Moore's last words had already been read by Lindsey Vann, his lawyer of ten years.
Lindsey Vann cried when the employee announced the execution could begin. She was holding a prayer bracelet decorated with a cross. A spiritual advisor sat next to her, his hands resting on his knees, palms up.
Two family members of the victims were also present, as well as attorney Barry Barnette, who was part of the team of prosecutors that convicted Moore.
Prison spokeswoman Chrysti Shain later read his final words at a news conference.
“To the family of Mr. James Mahoney, I am deeply sorry for the pain and heartache I have caused you,” he said. “To my children and my granddaughters, I love you and I am so proud of you. Thank you for the joy you have brought to my life. To all my family and friends, old and new, thank you for your love and support.
Three jurors who sentenced Moore to death in 2001, including one who wrote Friday, sent letters asking McMaster to change his sentence to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
They were joined by a former state prison warden, Moore's trial judge, his son and daughter, a half-dozen childhood friends and several pastors.
They all said Moore, 59, was a transformed man who loved God, cared for his grandchildren as best he could, helped guards keep the peace and mentored other prisoners after his addiction The drugs clouded his judgment and led to the shooting in which Mahoney was killed, according to the clemency request.
Moore's execution had been postponed twice as the state resolved issues that led to a 13-year hiatus in the use of the death penalty, including the refusal of companies to sell the drugs to the state. used for lethal injections, an obstacle that was resolved by the adoption of a secrecy law.
Moore is the second inmate executed in South Carolina since executions resumed.
Four others are nearing the end of their appeals process, and the state appears poised to put them to death at five-week intervals until the spring. Thirty people are currently on death row.
