Richard Moore, a South Carolina inmate, was executed by lethal injection for the 1999 murder of convenience store clerk James Mahoney, despite numerous pleas for clemency. This marked the second execution in the state after a lengthy hiatus. During the process, witnesses noted Moore’s calm demeanor as he faced his final moments. His last meal included steak and shrimp. Convicted without a jury of Black members, Moore maintained his innocence regarding intent to rob. He had attempted several appeals, claiming racial discrimination in jury selection. His death sparked a prayer vigil outside the prison, where supporters and family sought mercy for him.
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Richard Moore, un détenu de Caroline du Sud, a été exécuté par injection létale pour le meurtre en 1999 du commis d’un magasin, James Mahoney, malgré de nombreuses demandes de clémence. C’était la deuxième exécution dans l’État après une longue pause. Pendant le processus, des témoins ont noté le calme de Moore lors de ses derniers instants. Son dernier repas comprenait du steak et des crevettes. Condamné sans jury comprenant des membres noirs, Moore a maintenu son innocence quant à l’intention de voler. Ses appels ont soulevé des questions de discrimination raciale lors de la sélection du jury. Sa mort a déclenché une veillée de prière à l’extérieur de la prison, où ses partisans et sa famille ont demandé miséricorde.
Richard Moore, an inmate in South Carolina, was executed via lethal injection on Friday for the 1999 murder of a convenience store clerk, despite numerous calls for clemency.
Moore became the second person executed in the state following a 13-year hiatus due to challenges in acquiring the necessary drugs for lethal injection. The 59-year-old was declared dead at 6:24 p.m. after his appeal to stop the execution was denied by Governor Henry McMaster and the Supreme Court. McMaster had previously indicated he would not commute Moore’s sentence.
As the execution process commenced, Moore was restrained on a gurney with a blanket covering most of him. Witnesses reported that he looked up at the ceiling with his eyes shut as the lethal drugs were administered, followed by four to six deep, gasping breaths, as noted by The State.
Among the witnesses were two family members of James Mahoney, the deceased clerk, Moore’s attorney Lindsey Vann, his spiritual advisor, three reporters, a representative from the South Carolina Department of Corrections, a South Carolina Law Enforcement Division agent, and Spartanburg Solicitor Barry Barnette, who was involved in Moore’s prosecution in 2001. Barnette and Mahoney’s family members looked ahead, bearing solemn expressions as Moore took his final breaths. Outside the execution facility, about 40 people, including Moore’s attorney, death penalty opponents, and clergy members participated in a prayer vigil.
In a final statement read at a press conference, Moore expressed regret, saying: ‘To the family of Mr. James Mahoney, I am deeply sorry for the pain and sorrow I caused you all. To my children and granddaughters, I love you and am so proud of you. Thank you for the joy you have brought to my life.’
‘To all of my family and friends — both new and old — thank you for your love and support.’
For his last meal, Moore requested steak cooked medium, fried catfish and shrimp, scalloped potatoes, green peas, broccoli with cheese, sweet potato pie, German chocolate cake, and grape juice.
According to his defense team, Moore was the final individual on South Carolina’s death row convicted by a jury that did not include any Black members. He is also thought to be the only person put to death in the state for an armed robbery in which he did not bring the weapon involved.
Moore was convicted of killing clerk Mahoney during a robbery in Spartanburg County in 1999. Prosecutors claimed Moore entered the store unarmed, seized Mahoney’s handgun after a confrontation because he was 12 cents short, and after Mahoney tried to shoot Moore in self-defense, Moore fatally shot him in the head and fled with more than $1,400.
Prosecutors argued that Moore committed the robbery to support his crack cocaine addiction, while Moore insisted he was merely there to buy beer and cigarettes. He received a death sentence in 2001.
Failed Appeals
Moore pursued several appeals, the latest focusing on the alleged racial discrimination in jury selection during his trial in 2001, which the state rejected. The Supreme Court had previously ruled in 1986 that jurors cannot be dismissed solely based on race, requiring a ‘race-neutral’ justification if questioned.
Trey Gowdy, who prosecuted Moore and later served four terms in Congress, explained that one Black juror was dismissed for allegedly concealing her criminal past, and another due to their son’s murder conviction. Gowdy stressed that a white juror with a similar background was also disqualified, and pointed out that the final jury had a Hispanic member.
However, in a brief submitted to the Supreme Court, the South Carolina attorney general contended it was too late for Moore to raise issues concerning jurors’ race, arguing Moore acted in self-defense when he killed Mahoney.
Moore’s appeals drew national attention, with over 20 individuals—including former jurors, the judge from his trial, and a past director of the state prison system—appealing to McMaster for clemency.
Moore’s son, Lyndall, who was just four years old when his father faced charges, argued for his father’s mercy. ‘He’s not some sort of monster,’ Lyndall expressed, ‘He’s just a guy who struggled but always had a good heart, a normal guy trying to be a good father.’
In prison, Moore was reportedly a devout Christian, mentoring fellow inmates and pursuing painting, while also advising his children to steer clear of the mistakes he made.
Jon Ozmint, a former director of