SC inmate Freddie Owens dies by lethal injection, state’s first execution in 13 years

SOUTH CAROLINA (WJBF) – South Carolina inmate Freddie Owens, 46, has died by lethal injection, marking this the state’s first execution in 13 years.

South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster declined to grant any form of executive clemency to Freddie Owens.

The official letter from Governor McMaster was sent out around 6:46 P.M. on Friday stating:

“By virtue of the authority vested in me as Governor of the State of South Carolina and pursuant to article IV, section 14 of the Carolina Constitution and the discretion conferred upon me therein, and consistent with my contemporaneous oral transmission of my decision to you, this letter shall memorialize and further confirm that I have declined to grant any form of executive clemency in this matter.”

Freddie Owens was put to death Friday as the state restarted executions after an unintended 13-year pause because prison officials couldn’t get the drugs needed for lethal injections.

Owens was convicted of the 1997 killing of a Greenville convenience store clerk during a robbery. While on trial, Owens killed an inmate at a county jail. His confession to that attack was read to two different juries and a judge who all sentenced him to death.

Owens was pronounced dead at 6:55 p.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJBF.