South Carolina Executes Freddie Owens on September 20, 2024

Freddie Owens, South Carolina

Updated: Friday, September 20, 2024

On Friday, September 20, 2024, Freddie Eugene Owens, a/k/a Khalil Divine Black Sun Allah, was executed by the state of South Carolina.  He was pronounced dead at 6:55 pm local time, inside the execution chamber at the Broad River Capital Punishment Facility, at the Broad River Correctional Institute, in Columbia, South Carolina.  It was South Carolina’s first execution since 2011.  Freddie was 46 years of age.  He was convicted of murdering 41-year-old Irene Grainger Graves on November 1, 1997, in Greenville, South Carolina.  Freddie spent the last 21 years of his life on death row in South Carolina.

Freddie had a sad childhood.  He grew up in poverty and experienced much violence throughout his childhood.  He witnessed his stepfather repeatedly chase his mother with a machete.  Freddie’s grandmother spent time in prison after shooting another family member.  Freddie spent time in a juvenile facility as a teen and underwent anger management.  Freddie was allegedly abused and neglected while growing up.

Around 4 am on November 1, 1997, two masked gunmen entered a convenience store in Greenville, South Carolina.  One gunman went behind the counter, while another continued to point his gun at the clerk, Irene, from the customer side of the counter.  Near the end of the robbery, the gunman’s hand jerks back and the clerk falls.  The robbery and murder were caught by four different camera angles.  It was the third robbery in the area in less than two days.

Freddie Owens was arrested a few days after the robbery and murder.  An ex-girlfriend told the police that Owens had told her that he wanted to be the person who killed the most people in Greenville.  Owens’ girlfriend at the time, testified that Owens told her he was the shooter.

Owens’ co-conspirator, Stephen Golden, was also arrested and charged.  Golden pled guilty and testified that Owens was the shooter and that Owens shot Irene because she said she could not open the safe.  Two others who were with Owens the night of the robbery, and planned to carry out their own robbery at a Waffle House near the convenience store but ultimately did not, also testified that Owens confessed the shooting to Irene.

After being convicted of murder on January 15, 1999, Owens was returned to his cell for a mandatory 24-hour period before being sentenced.  That night, Owens brutally beat and murdered his cellmate, Christopher Lee.  Owens confessed and gave a statement to the police.  Allegedly, Lee had told Owens that he had a cousin on the jury that convicted Owens, and that Owens was going to be sentenced to death.  Owens has not been charged in Lee’s murder, as prosecutors have held charges in reserve, pending the outcome of Owens’ appeals for the sentence of death for the murder of Irene.

Owens’ death sentence was overturned twice but reinstated each time.  

Later appeals for Owens argued that he had brain damage in areas responsible for regulating emotions and behavior.  Owens and his lawyers, along with the help of medical professionals have argued that Owens should be granted clemency due to his brain damage. Those requests were ultimately rejected.

Freddie Owens was the first execution in South Carolina since 2011.  Executions were on hold in the state due to difficulties obtaining execution drugs.  Since 2011, South Carolina has passed secrecy laws that protect the identities of those involved in the execution process, including the suppliers of execution drugs.  Additionally, the execution protocol has been changed to allow execution by firing squad and electrocution, with electrocution being the default method.  Inmates are permitted to choose their method of execution, however, Freddie refused due to his Islamic faith and granted his attorney the power to make the choice.  He was ultimately executed by lethal injection.

Pray for peace for the family of Irene Graves.  Pray for strength for the family of Freddie Owens.