COLUMBIA, S.C. — After a 13-year hiatus, executions have resumed in South Carolina, with inmate Freddie Owens being the first to be put to death using a new lethal injection protocol. The state moved forward with Owens’ execution despite substantial debate and legal appeals up until the final moments.
Owens, 46, convicted of the murder of a Greenville convenience store clerk in 1997, received his lethal injection Friday evening. The execution marked the state’s first since 2011, ending an unintended pause that began due to difficulties in obtaining the necessary execution drugs.
On the night of his execution, Owens, restrained on a gurney, bid his lawyer farewell with a simple “bye” before the administration of the sedative pentobarbital. Within minutes after the drug was administered, Owens was declared deceased at 6:55 p.m.
South Carolina’s decision to resume capital punishment follows legislative changes allowing for more secrecy in the procurement of lethal injection drugs and the inclusion of additional execution methods such as a firing squad. This comes after pharmaceutical companies became increasingly unwilling to supply drugs for executions, forcing the state to adapt its approach.
Owens faced death for the fatal shooting of Irene Graves during a robbery at her workplace. It was alleged that when Graves informed Owens she could not open the store’s safe, he shot her. Adding complexity to his case, Owens was also implicated in the killing of a fellow inmate, Christopher Lee, while awaiting trial. Although never tried for Lee’s death, Owens had confessed, asserting his actions were a protest against his initial murder conviction.
Despite his legal team making last-minute pleas and presenting new testimony aimed at proving his innocence in Graves’ murder, all appeals were exhausted. The U.S. Supreme Court denied a stay of execution shortly before the procedure was scheduled to start.
Governor Henry McMaster also denied clemency for Owens, stating that he had extensively reviewed the case before making his decision. Owens’ execution might pave the way for others, as South Carolina law enforcement authorities indicated that several more inmates could face execution in the coming months under the revised legal frameworks.
Owens, who had changed his name to Khalil Divine Black Sun Allah while in prison, chose not to select his method of execution, leaving the decision to his lawyers because of his religious beliefs discouraging participation in one’s own death.
The state has faced significant scrutiny and opposition from activists and religious groups advocating for the abolition of the death penalty. Demonstrations and petitions calling for a halt to Owens’ and future executions underscored the controversial nature of the death penalty in South Carolina.
In recent years, South Carolina has seen a shift in capital punishment practices, mirroring broader national trends questioning the morality and efficacy of the death penalty. Despite being one of the more active states historically in carrying out capital sentences, public opinion and legal challenges have led to significant changes in how, and how often, the state conducts executions.
With these legal adjustments, South Carolina aims to navigate the complexities of capital punishment administration, even as the national dialogue continues to evolve with every case that comes to the forefront, including that of Freddie Owens.