Brad Sigmon, who admitted to killing his ex-girlfriend's parents, said he chose to die by bullets because he considered the other choices offered by the state to be worse.

South Carolina executed a convicted murderer by firing squad on Friday, the first use of the method in the United States in 15 years.

Brad Keith Sigmon called for an end to the death penalty before he was executed by firing squad in South Carolina on Friday. The death penalty is a legal form of criminal punishment in 27 states. Governors in California, Pennsylvania, Oregon and Ohio have currently placed executions on hold.