COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina death row inmate Richard Moore has more than 20 people asking the governor to spare his life in a clemency petition filed Wednesday, just two days before he is scheduled to die by lethal injection for the 1999 killing of a store clerk.
There are two jurors and the judge from his original trial. There is a former director of the state prison system who says Moore deeply regrets his crime and is a force for good behind bars both for fellow inmates and his children and grandchildren.
Also asking for clemency are six childhood friends, five relatives, several former attorneys who said Moore still checks on their families after they couldn’t keep him off death row, and the partner of a psychologist whose examination of Moore led to a deep friendship for them both, according to Moore’s petition.
“I have often wondered why Richard would rather spend his life in a prison cell than end this hell he must encounter every day. When I asked him, he told me that he finds that he now has something to offer the world,” Ravi Walsh wrote in 42 pages of letters sent to Republican Gov. Henry McMaster, the sole person with the power to take Moore off death row.
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No governor has offered clemency to any of the 44 inmates executed in South Carolina since the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the death penalty to resume in 1976. No other state has put so many inmates to death without sparing anyone.
McMaster has promised to review Moore’s petition thoroughly. As is customary, the governor has said he won’t announce his decision until minutes before Friday’s scheduled 6 p.m. EDT execution.
Moore’s lawyers said clemency is an act of grace and mercy and should mostly focus on what Moore, 59, has done since he shot and killed James Mahoney in a shootout at a Spartanburg convenience store in September 1999.
This undated photo provided by the South Carolina Department of Corrections shows the state’s death chamber in Columbia, S.C., including the electric chair, right, and a firing squad chair, left. Credit: AP/Uncredited
Moore is a born-again Christian who mentors his fellow inmates on isolated death row, and if his sentence is reduced to life without parole, his good influence can spread to many more prisoners, said Jon Ozmint, who was director of the South Carolina Department of Corrections from 2003 to 2011.
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“His story and manner of living would allow him to be an influential force for good in the general population with an ability to have a positive impact on the most recalcitrant and hopeless of young offenders,” wrote Ozmint, adding he supports the death penalty and has never advocated for another inmate for clemency.
The petition includes a video with segments of an interview with Moore.
“This is definitely part of my life I wish I could change. I took a life. I took someone’s life. I broke the family of the deceased,” Moore said. “I pray for the forgiveness of that particular family.”
This undated photo provided by the South Carolina Department of Corrections shows the witness room in the execution chamber at the Broad River Correctional Institution in Columbia, S.C. Credit: AP
Prosecutors and the family of Mahoney have not spoken publicly in the weeks leading up to the execution. In the past, Mahoney’s family have said they suffered deeply and want justice to be served.
Moore’s clemency petition said his attorneys didn’t provide him with the best defense at his 2001 trial. They include a different analysis of the crime scene along with Moore’s version of what happened that shows the clerk pulled a gun on Moore after the two argued because he was 12 cents short for what he wanted to buy.
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Moore said he wrestled that gun from the clerk’s hand and Mahoney pulled a second weapon. Moore was shot in the arm and fired back, killing Mahoney with a bullet to the chest. Moore then went behind the counter and stole about $1,300.
No one else on South Carolina’s death row started their crime unarmed and with no intention to kill, Moore’s current attorneys said.
Ozmint and others said the death penalty should be reserved for the worst crimes and not sought arbitrarily. Current Solicitor Barry Barnette, who was an assistant prosecutor on Moore’s case, didn’t seek the death penalty several years ago for Todd Kohlhepp, who killed seven people including a woman he raped and tortured for days.
Lawyers for Moore, who is Black, also have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to halt the execution to let a lower court review whether it was fair that no African Americans were on the jury that considered Moore’s fate in Spartanburg County, which was 20% Black in the 2000 U.S. Census.
Moore’s son and daughter said he has remained engaged in their lives. He now has grandchildren whom he sees on video calls. Several letter writers mentioned the harm to them if Moore is removed from their lives.
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“He does not make excuses for his actions — his only interest is staying alive so he can serve as an example to get those most at risk of going down a similar path and so he can play as much of a role as possible in the lives of his family,” son Lyndall Moore said,
In a video with the clemency petition, Ozmint said when he paid his last visit to inmates before their executions he would tell them that he would “see them on the other side.” He said the most compelling reason to give Richard Moore mercy is that he will be at peace with whatever is decided — whether he is in heaven or left on Earth to do good deeds.
“I know I’ll see Richard on the other side. I just don’t know when that will be,” Ozmint said. “I hope that Gov. McMaster will give Richard the rest of his life to pour into the lives of others.”
Saturday marks the final home game of the 2024 season for South Carolina. The in-state and 5-6 Wofford Terriers will drive down I-26 from Spartanburg to Columbia to take on the 7-3 Gamecocks. Williams-Brice Stadium is sold out again, completing the program goal of filling the stands for all seven home games this fall.
Through the first ten games of the season, Shane Beamer’s South Carolina football team has not repeated a uniform combination. Alternating garnet, black, and white helmets, jerseys, and pants, the Gamecocks also have mixed in some additional looks with throwbacks, alternate face masks, and updated helmet stickers and stripes.
On Saturday, the trend will end as South Carolina will repeat a uniform combination for the first time this season.
[GamecockCentral: $1 for 7 days and 50% off first year]
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Around lunchtime, the Gamecock Football account on Twitter/X hinted at the gameday uniform combination. The post showed a picture of what looked like the team’s throwback white helmets in front of an American flag.
Then, a little while later, the social media team revealed the rest of the gameday combination.
South Carolina has once again will rock its 1980 throwback uniforms. The Gamecocks also wore the look during the team’s blowout win over Akron earlier this season.
Saturday is Salute the Troops Day at Williams-Brice Stadium and also Senior Day.
The full list of Senior Day participants can be found here.
Around the GamecockScoop headquarters, we’re still all chasing publisher Caleb Alexander. Caleb leads all in the straight up picks and against the spread. Against the spread, Caleb is beating a lot of the experts. (Still need to remind everyone this for fun and not meant to be gambling advice).
Nationally, its a pretty quiet week before college football enters what conference realignment has left intact of rivalry week. There are still three top-25 matchups this weekend with a handful of other games that could impact the playoffs. It should be a good week for Gamecock fans too enjoy some college football with their feet up, assuming the Terriers play along.
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This week’s guest picker is another specialist, former walk-on Thomas Hooper. Hooper was a member of the Garnet and Black from 2004-2007. He was 3-for-3 in his career on extra points, adding PATs after some memorable Gamecock touchdowns. In 2004, he converted the point after following a 65-yard TroyWilliamson touchdown and a 57-yard Ko Simpson pick-6, both against UGA. Hooper then connected on an EXP after an 88-yard Bobby Wallace TD run against Middle Tennessee State in 2006. Hooper and his family live in greater Montgomery, AL area today.
#5 Indiana (10-0) +13.5 @ #2 Ohio State (9-1): 12:00 on FOX
The Buckeyes will be playing in their fifth-of-six straight noon kickoffs to end the 2024 regular season. Why is this game not in primetime? What happens to Indiana if Ohio State win this game by 24+ points? Do the Hoosiers still make the playoff with a paper-thin resume? They can’t play for the Big Ten title if they lose in the Shoe on Saturday. If Indiana wins they are in the Big Ten title game even if they somehow stumble to lowly Purdue. Ohio State gets in the Big Ten title game by winning out by beating Indiana and Michigan or by beating Indiana and having Penn State lose one of their final two games. Ohio State is 79-12-5 against Indiana all-time. Ronald Reagan was president the last time the Hoosiers beat Ohio State. (1988). OSU has won 29-in-a-row in this series.
#9 Ole Miss (8-2) -10.5 @ Florida (5-5): 12:00 on ABC
This is game the Rebels need to take seriously. Florida is playing much better football over the last month. They aren’t as good as Ole Miss but playing in the Swamp is always difficult. The Rebels are in a great spot at #9 in playoff rankings. If they take care of business against the Gators and next week verses rival Mississippi State, they are likely missing the SEC Championship Game and sitting at 10-2 waiting to see what Big Ten location they are traveling to play. Ole Miss path to Atlanta is unlikely: the Rebs needs to win out plus have Alabama lose one more game, Vanderbilt beat Tennessee, and Texas A&M lose out. That would give Texas the No. 1 seed and create only a two-way tie for second place between Georgia and Ole Miss in which the Rebels would get the No. 2 seed as a result of their head-to-head victory. If it’s a three-way tie for second with Georgia, Tennessee and Ole Miss, Georgia would get the nod.
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In case you were wondering: former Gamecock Pup Howard currently has 37 total tackles with one sack, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries for Florida.
#13 SMU (9-1) -9.5 @ Virginia (5-5): 12:00 on ESPN2
Let’s take a peak at the ACC Championship scenarios for SMU:
Clemson, Miami and SMU are the only three teams still remaining.
Clemson finished its ACC schedule at 7-1 in league play, while both Miami (vs. Wake Forest, at Syracuse) and SMU (at Virginia, vs. California) each have two remaining conference games. If both the Hurricanes and Mustangs win out, they will face off in the ACC Championship. That’s also the case if SMU only drops one of its final two games. Clemson will be on the outside looking in with one exception if the following happens:
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Virginia beats SMU and Virginia Tech and Pitt beat Louisville. Due to the record of conference opponents: Clemson would get nod. I think.
Sam Houston (8-2) +6 @ Jacksonville State (7-3): 12:00 on CBSSN
The Conference USA schedule makers need to placed in charge of all college football scheduling. Why? There are four schools still left in the hunt for the CUSA title game and they all play each the final two weeks of the season. Western Kentucky and Liberty meet in VA this weekend and Sam Houston heads to Jacksonville State. Next weekend Jax St plays at WKU and Liberty goes to SHSU. Will it matter in terms of the playoff? No. Every team in the CUSA has at least two losses overall. Boise State, Tulane, Memphis, Army and Louisiana are all ahead of the winner of this game.
Charleston Southern (1-10) +33.5 @ Florida State (1-9): 1:30 streaming on ESPN+
No one on the planet imagined FSU vs CSU would be the Week 14 Toilet Bowl, but here we are.
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Mike Norvell has gone from King of the Hill to….whatever is at the bottom of the hill. The Seminoles have had an epic meltdown. At the end of 2023, FSU was huffing and puffing at the ACC and demanding a higher payout for the schools that won more games. That chatter has quickly quieted down, leaving only Clemson debating if they should still push for more than they deserve.
CSU is one of the worst programs in the FCS and doesn’t stand much of a chance to win this game. However, they have the opportunity to make one lasting impression during a televised matchup. This will be four straight seasons with a losing record for the Buccaneers.
#4 Penn State (9-1) -12 @ Minnesota (6-4): 3:30 on CBS
Penn State is in a great position right now despite their best win being over 7-3 Illinois. All they have to do is beat Minnesota and Maryland and they are not only in the playoff, but they get to host a first-round game. They aren’t going to the Big Ten title game unless Ohio State beats Indiana and loses to Michigan and the Nittany Lions win out. Penn State might be in the best position of any at-large team with a strength of schedule at #32. If Penn State loses to either Minnesota or Maryland – they shouldn’t receive a bid.
#14 BYU (9-1) +3.5 @ #21 Arizona State (8-2): 3:30 on ESPN
The Big XII still has nine schools mathematically alive for their conference title game but BYU and Arizona State, along with Colorado, all control their own destiny. (Upset alert -part II, Colorado is only a -2.5 road favorite against Kansas. Remember the Jayhawks just knocked off BYU last week). Iowa State can advance to the Big XII game if they win out and BYU and Colorado both lose another game. BYU secures their spot with a win plus a Utah win (Utah hosts Iowa State). Colorado secures their spot with a win and wins by both Utah and BYU. The Sun Devils have won three-in-a-row. BYU has looked sluggish in their last two games.
Wofford (5-6) +42.5 @ #18 South Carolina (7-3): 4:00 streaming on SEC+
Gone are the days of the dreaded Wofford triple-option and chop blocks the week before the Clemson game. South Carolina has played Wofford twice before the Palmetto Bowl, in 2012 and 2017. The Gamecocks are 1-1 against Clemson after playing the Terriers the week before. Basketball is heating up and the football regular season is winding down, check back at GamecockScoop daily for the best Gamecock coverage on Al Gore’s internet.
#19 Army (9-0) +14 vs. #6 Notre Dame (9-1) (Yankee Stadium): 7:00 on NBC
Notre Dame has played on two opponents home field this season. The last such occasion was September 14 at one-win Purdue. To be fair, Georgia Tech wanted to move their game to Mercedes-Benz Stadium to capitalize on a larger gate. As it stands now, the Irish are in the playoff as long as they don’t stumble to either Army or Southern Cal on the road. With a win in the Bronx, Army will leapfrog Boise State as the highest ranked Group of Five conference champion. Army is also already locked into the American title game and will play Tulane. The location of that game will be determined after Army hosts UTSA next weekend.
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#7 Alabama (8-2) -14 @ Oklahoma (5-5): 7:30 on ESPN
Alabama is probably going to the SEC Championship yet again if they win. They will be a multi-score favorite at home against Auburn next week. If the Tide win out they are 99% going to Atlanta. That number goes to 100% if Missouri beats Mississippi State this weekend and the Tide win their last two. Bama would win all multi-team tiebreakers due to conference opponent strength of record. Opposing the Tide is likely to be either Texas or Texas A&M, although watch out this weekend as the Aggies are only a -2.5 favorite against 4-6 Auburn. Vegas smells an upset. Brent Venables is going to get an early look at the portal with Bama and at LSU left on the Sooners schedule.
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (AP) — Omar Croskey scored 20 points as South Carolina State beat Alabama A&M 82-70 on Friday night.
Croskey went 7 of 12 from the field (6 for 9 from 3-point range) for the Bulldogs (3-3). Davion Everett scored 12 points while finishing 5 of 6 from the floor and added five rebounds.
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The Bulldogs (3-3) were led in scoring by Anthony Bryant and Chad Moodie with 16 points apiece. Lorenzo Downey had 14 points.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
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