South Carolina Gives Richard Moore Execution Date of November 1, 2024
Richard Moore, South Carolina
Updated: Monday, October 14, 2024
Richard Bernard Moore is scheduled to be executed at 6 pm local time on Friday, November 1, 2024. The execution will occur inside the execution chamber at the Broad River Capital Punishment Facility at the Broad River Correctional Institute in Columbia, South Carolina. Fifty-nine-year-old Richard is convicted of murdering 42-year-old James Mahoney during a robbery on September 16, 1999. Richard has spent the last 23 years on South Carolina’s death row.
Richard was allegedly raised in a community that had a prevalence of drugs, which led to Richard beginning to abuse drugs during his youth. Before turning to robbery to support his drug habit, Richard performed well in the classroom and on the athletic field.
Around 3 am on September 16, 1999, Richard Moore entered a Nikki’s convenience store in Spartanburg, South Carolina. James Mahoney was the store clerk. Terry Hadden was also at the store, playing a video game. Terry heard James yell, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Terry turned toward the sound and saw Moore holding both of James’s hands and pointing a gun. Moore pointed the weapon at Terry, telling him not to move. Moore then fired at Terry, who fell to the floor and pretended to be dead. Terry heard several more shots fired, and then the bell at the door ring. He opened his eyes and saw a pickup truck leave the store.
Terry then went over to James, who was lying face down, with a gun next to him. Terry called the police, however, James died shortly after being shot through his heart. The store had also been robbed of $1,408.00. Moore allegedly needed the money to buy drugs, as he did not have enough money to buy drugs before the robbery.
Moore was found by police a short time later, approximately a mile and a half from the store. Moore was bleeding profusely from his left arm. As the police officer approached, Moore quickly confessed to the crime and surrendered himself without a fight. Police found the murder weapon nearby later that morning.
DNA evidence was found inside the store and on the murder weapon. Moore attempted to argue that he shot the store clerk, James, out of self-defense, as James pulled a gun on him first as the two argued over change for a purchase. Moore also claimed that James shot him first. Further, Moore denied intentionally shooting at a customer, arguing that the gun simply went off during the struggle with James. Moore was tried and convicted during a jury trial. He was sentenced to death.
This is not Moore’s first execution date. Previous execution dates were stayed for varying reasons. Moore will have the option of choosing between three methods of execution: the firing squad, the electric chair, and lethal injection. If Moore fails to select a method, electrocution is the default method. South Carolina has recently announced that they are prepared to carry out the execution via any method and that proper testing and training has been done.
Richard Moore plans to seek clemency from South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster and ask to have his sentence reduced to life in prison.
Pray for peace and healing for the family of James Mahoney. Pray for peace and healing for Terry Hadden. Please pray that if Richard Moore is innocent, lacks the competency to be executed, or should not be executed for any other reason, that evidence will be provided before his execution. Pray that Richard may find peace through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
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