South-Carolina

‘Not the worst of the worst’: Richard Moore set for execution in South Carolina on Friday

Published

3 weeks ago

November 1, 2024

‘Not the worst of the worst’: Richard Moore set for execution in South Carolina on Friday

Moore’s attorney describes a formerly addicted man who is now a devout Christian, a good father and a changed man. Only the governor can stop the execution now.

The last Black man on South Carolina’s death row to be convicted and sentenced by an all-white jury, according to his attorney, is set to be executed for killing a convenience store clerk during an alleged robbery in 1999.

Richard Moore is scheduled to be executed by lethal injection on Friday for the death of James Mahoney. If it moves forward, that will make Moore the second inmate executed in the state in a five-week period following a more than decade-long break in the death penalty in South Carolina. Moore also would become the 21st inmate executed in the U.S. in 2024.

Not only does the death sentence imposed by an all-white jury raise serious questions about whether Moore got a fair shake in the South Carolina court system, his attorney argues that Moore was unarmed when he walked into the convenience store and wasn’t even there to rob it.

“This isn’t the worst of the worst,” his attorney, Lindsey Vann, told USA TODAY. “This isn’t the premeditated cold-blooded killing you think of when you think of the death penalty.”

Moore said recently that he prays for forgiveness from Mahoney’s family.

“I hate it happened. I wish I could go back and change it,” a tearful Moore said as part of his request for clemency to the governor. “I took a life. I took someone’s life. I broke a family.”

Here’s what you need to know about Moore’s execution, who he killed and why Moore’s trial judge, two jurors and the former director of South Carolina’s corrections department all believe he deserves clemency from Republican Gov. Henry McMaster.

What was Richard Moore convicted of?

Moore was convicted of fatally shooting James Mahoney on Sept. 16, 1999, at Nikki’s Speed Mart in Spartanburg, a city in northern South Carolina.

At trial, prosecutors told jurors that Moore confronted Mahoney with the intent to rob Nikki’s, even though he was unarmed, according to coverage of the trial from the Greenville News, part of the USA TODAY Network.

It was Mahoney who drew a .45-caliber gun, after which Moore overpowered and disarmed him. Moore then shot a customer, Mahoney drew another gun, and a shootout ensued, prosecutors said. Mahoney was killed and Moore was hit in the left arm, the Greenville News reported.

Moore ended up leaving the store with $1,400 in cash after dripping blood on Mahoney while stepping over him, and then tried to buy crack cocaine at a nearby home, prosecutors said.

Moore’s attorney argues that he wasn’t robbing the store and a confrontation only arose after Moore was pennies short of being able to pay for his purchases and refused to leave the store.

The jury convicted Moore of murder and sentenced him to death.

He has previously been scheduled for execution twice. It was first scheduled in 2020, but South Carolina didn’t have the lethal injection drugs to carry it out. It was then scheduled for 2022, when Moore was set to be killed by a firing squad, but his attorneys were able to delay it after challenging the constitutionality of the method.

Who is Richard Moore?

“Richard is a devoted Christian father, grandfather, and friend to many, who has reformed his life in the 25 years since his arrest,” his attorney, Lindsey Vann, wrote in his clemency petition. “Like anyone who grows in their walk with Christ, Richard recognized the sins of his past and has sought forgiveness for his mistakes and how they hurt others.”

Moore’s two children, who are now in their 30s, said in a clemency video that he has been a good father to them despite being behind bars since then were 4 and 6 years old.

“I have only ever known my dad as a great father,” his daughter, Alexandria Moore, said in Moore’s clemency request to McMaster. “That’s the only picture I have of him, as giving me copious amounts of love, he has never made me feel anything but incredibly loved and special and I’m grateful for that.”

Moore has taken up painting in prison and likes to do landscapes, Vann said.

Back when the crime happened, Vann said in the clemency petition that Moore “was a man who loved his family and wanted to support them, but who also struggled with a drug addiction that had plagued him since his teenage years growing up outside of Detroit, Michigan.”

She said that addiction cost Mahoney’s life and Moore’s freedom but that Moore “was finally able to break free” of his addiction in prison and has led a good, clean life behind bars.

“We − neither Richard nor his counsel − do not seek to minimize the immense grief and suffering the Mahoney family has experienced over the past 25 years,” she wrote. “His life was cut short and his family lost him forever. But Richard’s death will not undo that harm. Instead, it would remove a loving and supportive presence from the lives of his family and loved ones.”

During the penalty phase of Moore’s trial, prosecutor Trey Gowdy told jurors that Moore had repeatedly assaulted multiple women over the years and had previously been convicted on weapons and burglary charges in the 1980s.

Michelle Crowder testified that Moore punched her in the neck in 1991 and kicked her repeatedly in the head and back as he tried to steal her purse. He then severely beat her fiancé, who had come to her rescue, she testified.

“He’s had chance after chance after chance,” Gowdy said. “James Mahoney had no chance.”

Other voices requesting reprieve for Richard Moore

Among those who believe Moore’s life should be spared in favor of life in prison include his trial judge, two jurors and the former director of South Carolina’s corrections department, according to Moore’s clemency package to McMaster.

“I hope that Governor McMaster will give Richard sort of the rest of his life to continue to pour into the lives of others,” said Jon Ozmint, who believes in the death penalty and is the former director of the South Carolina Department of Corrections, which carries out the state’s executions.

“He’s a changed man,” Ozmint said.

Retired Circuit Court Judge Gary Clary, who imposed the death sentence, also asked McMaster to grant clemency.

“Over the years, I have studied the case of each person who resides on death row in South Carolina,” he wrote. “Moore’s case is unique, and after years of thought and reflection, I humbly ask that you grant executive clemency to Mr. Moore as an act of grace and mercy.”

Who is James Mahoney?

Mahoney’s family has not responded to a request for interviews made through the state’s Attorney General’s Office.

They testified in court during the penalty phase of Moore’s trial that the 42-year-old Mahoney was a doting uncle and an avid NASCAR fan.

“I miss his future with us,” Kathy Pinson, Mahoney’s younger sister, said through tears. “I miss the holidays. I miss him coming over on Sundays … to hear him knock on my back door and say, ‘Hey sis, what’s for supper?’ I’ll never hear that again.”

When is Richard Moore’s execution?

Moore is set to die by lethal injection at 6 p.m. ET Friday at at the Broad River Correctional Institute in Columbia, South Carolina.

The U.S. Supreme Court denied Moore’s request for a stay of execution on Thursday.

The last means of a reprieve for Moore lies with McMaster.

Contributing: Tom Langhorne, Terry Benjamin II

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South-Carolina

JuJu Watkins, Hannah Hidalgo, South Carolina highlight women’s games to watch this week

Published

3 hours ago

November 21, 2024

Press Room

JuJu Watkins, Hannah Hidalgo, South Carolina highlight women’s games to watch this week

Technically, Feast Week is still three days away, but given some of the star-powered matchups this week in women’s college hoops, those who are craving good basketball are going to get their fill — and then some.

The two biggest games of the week are both taking place in L.A., more proof that Hollywood really does attract the biggest and best stars. While USC-Notre Dame and UCLA-South Carolina will command plenty of attention, don’t discount some of the unranked and/or mid-major schools listed below. November is a great time to get familiar with non-brand names that could make a run come March.

And with that, here are five women’s college games to watch this week.

Belmont at No. 14 Duke

Thursday, 7 p.m. on ACC Network

Don’t be fooled by Belmont’s 2-2 record — the Bruins took No. 11 Ohio State to the wire last week, and Bart Brooks is one of the best coaches in the country, period. Belmont boasts a balanced scoring attack, with five players averaging 8.0 points or more, but in order to pull an upset in historic Cameron Indoor Stadium, they’re going to need Kendall Holmes (12.2 ppg, 4.8 rpg) and Emily La Chapell (11.5 ppg, 3.0 apg) to step up. Duke, which also has a balanced attack, won’t make it easy, especially if Ashlon Jackson (13.2 ppg, 40% 3FG) and Reigan Richardson (11.4 ppg, 41.2% 3FG) are hitting from outside.

No. 9 Oklahoma at UNLV

Friday, 3:30 ET on Mountain West Network

This could be interesting. UNLV has ruled the Mountain West for a few years, and is often ranked at the end of the regular season. But the Rebels have yet to make major noise in the NCAA tournament, even though they’re often a popular upset pick. Could a win at home over a top 10 team help build the confidence they need to do some damage in March? To upset the Sooners they’ll have to figure out how to handle junior center Raegan Beers (21.2 ppg, 11.8 rpg), arguably the top transfer in the country.

Harvard at Northwestern

Saturday, 1 p.m. ET on Big Ten Network+

Harvard’s already picked up one win against a Big Ten team, knocking off then-ranked Indiana in Bloomington in the second game of the season. And given that the Crimson feature one of the best players in the country you haven’t heard of — senior guard Harmoni Turner is averaging 23.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists and shooting 45.1% from the field — the chances of notching another big road win look good.

No. 5 Notre Dame at No. 3 USC

Saturday, 4 p.m. ET on NBC/Peacock

The two best sophomores in the country, USC’s JuJu Watkins and Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo take centerstage in a game that could very well break scoring records based on how much these two guards love to push pace. Watkins (21.5 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 4.8 spg) is pro-ready in just her second year of college hoops and Hidalgo (25.0 ppg, 5.2 spg) is maybe the best on-ball defender in the country, a pest who knows how to steal the ball and turn it into points on the other end. But these two are hardly one-woman shows. USC got a gem out of the transfer portal in Kiki Iriafen (17.3 ppg, 7.5 rpg) and the Irish’s other star guard, Olivia Miles (18.3 ppg, 6.8), is healthy after missing last season. You’re going to want popcorn handy when you tune into this game.

No. 1 South Carolina at No. 6 UCLA

Sunday, 4 p.m. ET on FS1

UCLA junior center Lauren Betts (21.5 ppg, 11.5 rpg) is an early favorite to contend for national player of the year honors. One thing that would help make a case for her: a stellar performance against the defending champs. That’s a tall task though, even for the 6-foot-7 Betts. She’ll be going up against Gamecocks like Joyce Edwards (10.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg), a freshman who plays like a veteran, and Ashlyn Watkins (5.7 ppg, 1.3 bpg), who proved last year she’s one of the best defenders in the country. Will UCLA and Betts be able to slow Chloe Kitts (17.3 ppg, 10.3 rpg) and Te-Hina Paopao (13.5 ppg, 44% 3FG)? They’ll have to in order to beat South Carolina. A big game from transfer Timea Gardiner (14.5 ppg, 57.7% 3FG) would also help.

USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll: Defending national champions remain at No. 1

Email Lindsay Schnell at lschnell@usatoday.com and follow her on social media @Lindsay_Schnell

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South-Carolina

Updated NFL Draft projections for South Carolina football standouts

Published

11 hours ago

November 20, 2024

Press Room

Updated NFL Draft projections for South Carolina football standouts

The South Carolina football record for single-year NFL Draft selections in the modern era is seven. Both the 2009 draft and 2013 draft saw seven Gamecocks selected. (Back in 1954, nine USC alums went in a much longer draft.)

The 2025 NFL Draft could challenge those numbers.

The Gamecocks will be well-represented in April’s draft, especially on defense. You can check out some recent draft projections below. (The only underclassmen included are TJ Sanders and Nick Emmanwori because of their expected early-round selections.)

[GamecockCentral: $1 for 7 days and 50% off first year]

TJ Sanders

The player most consistently mocked in the 1st round among the draft-eligible Gamecocks is big TJ Sanders. The athletic defensive tackle has gotten top-30 love from CBS Sports’ Chris Trapasso and Mike Renner. Other outlets predict a 2nd or 3rd-round selection, but Sanders appears to be a lock in the top 100.

Nick Emmanwori

Nick Emmanwori has been one of several standouts on this year’s defense at South Carolina. Because of that, the talented safety has become one of the top players at his position in the 2025 draft. Some even consider him this cycle’s best overall safety. Emmanwori is big, fast, and great on the back end. CBS’ Ryan Wilson views the freaky athlete as a 1st-rounder. Most outlets seem to position him in the 2nd round.

Kyle Kennard

Coming into 2024 as a late-round guy, Kyle Kennard has played himself into a new future. Now, following an All-American showing this fall, he has been mocked as high as the late 1st round but seems settled into somewhere in the top 100 according to most sources. That is exactly where The Draft Network’s Keith Sanchez projects Kennard. Sanchez calls him a “Day 2” pick, meaning he believes Kennard will go in the 2nd or 3rd round.

Rocket Sanders

Running backs aren’t nearly as highly coveted in the draft as they used to be, but Rocket Sanders is among the names garnering consideration. The 33rd Team’s Kyle Crabbs projects Sanders to be a 5th-round pick. That also tracks with other NFL Draft big boards and mocks. Most outlets seem to think Sanders will be off the board between the fourth and seventh rounds.

DeAndre Jules

An under-the-radar Gamecock in draft circles in DeAndre Jules. The big defensive tackle has missed some time this fall, but the NFL is still intrigued by the big fella. Walter Football’s Charlie Campbell projects Jules to go in the 3rd or 4th round in April. That is higher than most other mocks, though. When Jules is included on other NFL Draft boards, it is as a potential late-round pick.

Josh Simon

As part of a strong season, Josh Simon tied USC’s single-season touchdown record for tight ends (6) against Missouri. Because of his production, the NFL is taking notice. AtoZSports NFL Draft analyst Ryan Roberts called Simon “a better pro than college player,” which is significant because he’s a really good college tight end. NFL Draft pundits are late to the party, but he’s starting to get late-round buzz as a possible 5th-round to 7th-round selection. The offseason should be kind to Simon’s draft stock.

O’Donnell Fortune

O’Donnell Fortune could be the next South Carolina cornerback to make his way into the draft. In fact, earlier this fall, NFL Draft analyst Tony Pauline gave the Palmetto State native a 6th-round grade. Several other outlets have followed suit recently. Fortune has had a strong senior season in Columbia and should find himself in professional football next year, whether via draft selection or free agent contract. He is a “stock up” candidate.

Demetrius Knight

Demetrius Knight is an NFL linebacker. Because he didn’t play until last year (with Charlotte) and has just one season in the SEC, his stock isn’t high. As things stand, Walter Football’s Charlie Campbell lists Knight as a 6th or 7th-round pick. However, Knight’s size and speed should see him be an offseason riser. His physical testing numbers and pop on film should impress scouts.

Tonka Hemingway

Heading into the season, Tonka Hemingway was viewed as a potential major riser for the 2025 NFL Draft. With other players also stepping up around the country at the position, a solid year for Hemingway hasn’t seen that draft stock bump come to fruition. Walter Football’s Charlie Campbell calls Hemingway a 6th or 7th-round pick.

[Win two tickets to the South Carolina-Wofford football game]

Other Late-Round/Undrafted Free Agent Hopefuls

*The players listed below have received 7th-round or undrafted free agent grades from various outlets*

LB Debo Williams
G/C Torricelli Simpkins
C/G Vershon Lee
LB Bam Martin-Scott
DT Boogie Huntley
WR Gage Larvadain
P Kai Kroeger
LS Hunter Rogers

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South-Carolina

Gamecocks Welcome Mercer Thursday Night

Published

19 hours ago

November 20, 2024

Press Room

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina (2-2) returns home for a Thursday night matchup with Mercer (2-2) at Colonial Life Arena. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m. (ET) with Dave Weinstein (pxp) and John Williams (analyst) on the call for the SEC Network+ broadcast.

It’ll be the seventh all-time meeting between the Gamecocks and Bears and first since Dec. 30, 2001, in Dave Odom’s inaugural season as head coach at South Carolina.

The contest will be an unbracketed game part of the Fort Myers Tip-Off, which takes place next week at Suncoast Credit Union Arena Nov. 25 and 27.

Road closures for the annual Vista Lights on Nov. 21 will affect traffic for the campus community and fans heading to the men’s basketball game at 7 p.m. against Mercer.

Starting around 5 p.m., the city of Columbia will close the following streets:

Gervais Street from Gadsden to Assembly streets
Lincoln Street from Senate to Lady streets
Park Street from Senate to Lady streets

Members of the university community are advised to find alternate routes home from campus or to Colonial Life Arena.

Season tickets remain available and more information can be found here. Single-game tickets are now available as well and can be purchased here.

GAME INFORMATION

TIME: 7 p.m. (ET) with doors opening at 6 p.m.

VENUE: Colonial Life Arena

TV: SEC Network+

PLAY-BY-PLAY: Dave Weinstein

ANALYST: John Williams

RADIO: Gamecock Radio Network

IN COLUMBIA: 107.5 The Game

PLAY-BY-PLAY: Derek Scott

ANALYST: Casey Manning

SIRIUSXM: 385 | SXM APP: 975

WATCH: ESPN.com/watch/

LIVE STATS: GamecocksOnline.com

SERIES: SC leads, 4-2

in COLUMBIA: SC leads, 4-2

SERIES TREND: SC has won three-in-a-row dating back to Jan. 2, 1993, a 68-66 victory.

LAST MEETING: Dec. 30, 2001 in the non-conference finale of Dave Odom’s first season ; Gamecocks won 88-52 in what would be the final season of Frank McGuire Arena.

UP NEXT

The Gamecocks head south for a two-game MTE in the program’s debut at the Fort Myers Tip-Off. Carolina opens vs. Xavier (4-0) on Monday. Tip is 8:30 p.m. (ET) on FS1 with Jeff Levering (pxp) and Donny Marshall (analyst) on the call. The team will face either Virginia Tech or Michigan Wednesday night at Suncoast Credit Union Arena.

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