South Carolina Executes Richard Moore, Sparking Death Penalty and Racial Bias Debate

On Friday evening, South Carolina carried out the execution of Richard Moore, 59, who had been on death row for over two decades. Moore’s lethal injection came shortly after Governor Henry McMaster declined a last-minute clemency plea. Despite growing calls for mercy from multiple influential figures, Moore was pronounced dead at 6:24 pm, marking South Carolina’s second execution of the year following a long hiatus.

A Growing Call for Clemency from Advocates and Officials

In an unusual move, a coalition of advocates, including Moore’s lawyer, several jurors, a former South Carolina Supreme Court justice, and even the judge who originally sentenced Moore to death, urged the state to spare his life. Supporters argued that Moore had transformed during his incarceration and became a positive role model. His two children, who maintained close contact with him throughout his years in prison, also submitted heartfelt pleas for their father’s life to be spared.

Former Corrections Director Jon Ozmint, who was once a staunch supporter of capital punishment, appealed to the governor for clemency, citing Moore’s positive impact on other inmates. “Commutation would have a positive influence on hundreds of offenders who would be impacted by Richard’s story of redemption and his positive example,” Ozmint said in his clemency application.

Final Moments and Messages to Loved Ones

Moore’s final words were directed toward the family of James Mahoney, the convenience store clerk he killed in 1999. In a message shared by a prison spokesperson, he expressed remorse: “To the family of Mr. James Mahoney, I am deeply sorry for the pain and sorrow I caused you all.” Moore also addressed his children and family, expressing love and gratitude for the joy they had brought to his life.

A Case Clouded by Controversy and Calls for Justice Reform

Moore’s case has long been scrutinized for potential racial bias. Moore, a Black man, was convicted by an all-white jury of killing Mahoney, a white store clerk, during a robbery that many believe was unplanned. Moore maintained that the killing was an act of self-defense, stating he entered the store unarmed, and the situation escalated only after Mahoney brandished a weapon.

In a pivotal 2022 dissent, state Supreme Court Justice Kaye Hearn described Moore’s death sentence as “disproportionate” and “a relic of a bygone era.” She argued that Moore’s case did not fit the criteria of “worst of the worst” murders, a standard for capital punishment eligibility.

An Appeal to the Supreme Court and Governor Denied

Moore’s legal team also raised issues regarding jury selection, noting that prosecutors had removed two Black jurors from the pool. The U.S. Supreme Court, however, declined to intervene. Governor McMaster’s final rejection of clemency came hours before Moore’s execution.

Judge Gary Clary, who sentenced Moore to death in 2001, sent a letter to the governor this week, describing Moore’s case as “unique.” Reflecting on his decision, Clary urged clemency, suggesting that the state show “grace and mercy.”

Impact on Family and the Community

Throughout his imprisonment, Moore kept close ties with his family, particularly his daughter Alexandria, who remembered her father’s loving presence despite the physical distance. Alexandria, now a mother herself, noted that her father was a devoted grandfather, who remained part of his granddaughters’ lives.

Outside the Broad River Correctional Institution, protesters gathered as the execution took place, holding signs with messages such as “Save Richard Moore” and “Execute justice, not people.” Lindsey Vann, Moore’s lawyer, noted the emotional toll the case had on Moore’s family, stating that Moore’s children “are now fatherless, and his grandchildren will grow up without their ‘Pa Pa.’”

Debates on South Carolina’s Renewed Execution Practices

After a 13-year moratorium, South Carolina resumed executions earlier this year, citing new state legislation that protects the anonymity of companies supplying lethal injection drugs. The swift pace of executions—scheduled every five weeks—has sparked concerns among advocates who argue it risks procedural errors and strains legal resources.

The American Civil Liberties Union’s South Carolina chapter expressed dismay at what they called the state’s “assembly line” approach. “It’s like an assembly line. The state is motivated to kill condemned people as quickly as possible, and they do that despite evidence that might change their minds,” said Paul Bowers of the ACLU.

The debate over Moore’s execution has amplified longstanding concerns about racial disparities in capital punishment. Spartanburg County, where Moore was convicted, has been criticized for an alleged history of racial imbalance in death penalty cases. Justice Kaye Hearn highlighted that the overwhelming majority of death penalty cases in the county involved white victims.