South Carolina has carried out its first execution in over a decade, putting to death Steven Bixby by lethal injection for the brutal 2003 murders of two law enforcement officers.
The 44-year-old was pronounced dead at 6:13 pm local time at the Broad River Correctional Institution in Columbia, following the US Supreme Court's rejection of a last-minute appeal to halt the proceedings.
A Brutal Christmas Eve Ambush
Bixby's crimes date back to Christmas Eve 2003, when he and his father embarked on a violent confrontation with authorities at their Abbeville home. The situation escalated dramatically when they opened fire on officers who arrived to serve an eviction notice.
South Carolina Highway Patrol Sergeant Danny Wilson was shot multiple times and died at the scene. Eight hours later, Abbeville County Sheriff's Deputy Danny Wilson was killed by a sniper's bullet while attempting to negotiate with the barricaded suspects.
A Decade-Long Wait for Justice
Bixby's execution marks the end of a lengthy legal process that saw numerous appeals and delays. His final moments were witnessed by family members of both victims, who have waited nearly twenty years for justice to be served.
In his last statement, Bixby offered a brief apology: "I'm sorry. That's all I got to say."
South Carolina's Return to Capital Punishment
This execution represents a significant moment for South Carolina's justice system, being the state's first since 2011. The resumption follows legal battles over the state's execution methods and a temporary hiatus caused by difficulties obtaining lethal injection drugs.
With this execution carried out, four men remain on South Carolina's death row, potentially facing similar fates in the coming months as the state resumes its capital punishment programme.
