South Carolina death row inmate Freddie Owens executed by lethal injection

South Carolina executed inmate Freddie Owens, restarting executions after a 13-year pause due to a lack of lethal injection drugs. Owens was convicted of killing a store clerk during a robbery and later an inmate in jail. Despite last-ditch appeals being denied, including a plea to the U.S. Supreme Court and a clemency request to the governor, Owens was pronounced dead at 6:55 p.m. His case was marked by another killing and multiple death sentences overturned on appeal. South Carolina plans to carry out more executions using a new protocol with the option of lethal injection, firing squad, or the electric chair. Owens’ lawyers argued lack of evidence and his young age at the time of the crime, but the execution proceeded as scheduled.