South Carolina Gives Richard Moore Execution Date of November 1, 2024
Richard Moore, South Carolina
Updated: Friday, November 1, 2024
Richard Bernard Moore was executed on Friday, November 1, 2024, inside the execution chamber at the Broad River Capital Punishment Facility at the Broad River Correctional Institute in Columbia, South Carolina. Richard was pronounced dead at 6:24 pm local time. Fifty-nine-year-old Richard was executed for the murder of 42-year-old James Mahoney during a robbery on September 16, 1999. Richard spent the last 23 years of his life 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.
Pray for peace and healing for the family of James Mahoney. Pray for peace and healing for Terry Hadden.
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