South-Carolina
Richard Moore’s final words before South Carolina execution
South Carolina inmate Richard Moore was executed by lethal injection on Friday for the 1999 murder of a convenience store clerk, despite widespread appeals for clemency.
Moore was the second person to be executed in the state in just over a month after a 13-year pause, prompted by difficulty obtaining drugs for its lethal injection protocol. The 59-year-old was pronounced dead at 6:24 p.m. after Governor Henry McMaster and the Supreme Court denied his request to halt the execution. Two years ago, in discussing Moore’s case, Republican McMaster said he wouldn’t issue a commutation.
As the execution began, Moore was strapped to a gurney, with a blanket covering most of his body. Witnesses said he faced the ceiling with his eyes closed as the lethal drug entered his body, before taking between four and six deep gasping breaths, The State reported.
Witnesses included two family members of James Mahoney, Moore’s lawyer, Lindsey Vann, his spiritual adviser, three journalists, an official from the South Carolina Department of Corrections, a South Carolina Law Enforcement Division agent and Spartanburg Solicitor Barry Barnette, who played a role in prosecuting Moore in 2001. Barnette and members of Mahoney’s family stared stoically ahead as Moore took his last breaths, according to The State. Outside, roughly 40 people, including an attorney who represented Moore, opponents of the death penalty and members of the clergy held a prayer vigil.
Matt Kelley/AP
In a final statement, which was read at a news conference, Moore said: “To the family of Mr. James Mahoney, I am deeply sorry for the pain and sorrow I cause you all. To my children and granddaughters, I love you and am so proud of you. Thank you for the joy you have brought to my life.
“To all of my family and friends — new and old — thank you for you love and support.”
His final meal was steak cooked medium, fried catfish and shrimp, scalloped potatoes, green peas, broccoli with cheese, sweet potato pie, German chocolate cake and grape juice.
Moore was the last person remaining on South Carolina’s death row to be convicted by a jury with no Black members, his defense attorneys say. He is also believed to be the only person in the history of South Carolina’s death penalty executed for an armed robbery who did not bring the fatal weapon to the scene.
Moore was found guilty of killing convenience store clerk Mahoney during a 1999 robbery in Spartanburg County. According to prosecutors, Moore entered the store without a weapon and managed to wrestle away Mahoney’s handgun, which he drew after getting into an altercation with Moore because he was 12 cents short. Mahoney then reached for a second firearm, shooting Moore in the arm, but Moore responded by fatally shooting Mahoney in the head. Prosecutors said Moore then fled the scene with a bag containing over $1,400 in cash.
Prosecutors accused Moore of robbing the store to fund his crack addiction. However, over the years, Moore maintained that he was there to buy beer and cigarettes. In 2001, he was sentenced to death.
Unsuccessful Appeals
Moore appealed his sentence several times, most recently on the basis that prosecutors impermissibly struck two Black jurors because of their race in his 2001 murder case, which the state denied. In 1986, the Supreme Court ruled that prosecutors cannot strike a potential juror based solely on race. If challenged, the state must state a “race-neutral” reason for excluding the candidate.
Trey Gowdy – a prosecutor in Moore’s case who later served four terms as a Republican congressman – told the judge one Black jury candidate was struck primarily for allegedly hiding her criminal record during questioning, while another was excluded because their son had been convicted of murder. Gowdy noted that a white juror with a similar family situation had also been removed. Additionally, he pointed out that the final jury included a Hispanic member.
But in a brief filed Tuesday with the Supreme Court, the South Carolina attorney general argued it was too late for Moore to raise the issue of jurors’ race because it had not been mentioned in earlier appeals. They argued Moore killed Mahoney in self-defense.
His appeals gained national attention, with more than 20 people – including two jurors, the judge from Moore’s original trial and a former director of the state prison system – asking McMaster to spare Moore’s life by granting him clemency, The Associated Press reported.
Moore’s son, Lyndall, who was four when his father was charged, also argued that his father deserved mercy.
“He’s not some sort of monster,” Lyndall told The State. “He’s just a guy who struggled, but always a guy with a good heart, you know, a normal guy trying to be a good father.”
In prison, Moore reportedly became a devout Christian, dedicated himself to mentoring other inmates and took up painting. He also encouraged his children to avoid his own missteps.
Former Department of Corrections Director Jon Ozmint described Moore as a “reliable, consistent force for good on death row,” according to The State, and argued that commuting Moore’s sentence could serve as a powerful example of redemption. Ozmint added: “Perhaps the most compelling reason to commute Richard’s sentence is precisely because he is at peace with whatever decision you reach.”
South-Carolina
LIVE: SC AG Alan Wilson, state, national leaders hold press conference on statewide drug busts
Statehouse Reporter Mary Green will have more on this tonight.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) – South Carolina Attorney General and other officials will be holding a press conference Friday at 9:30 a.m. to talk about statewide drug busts.
Wilson is set to be joined by South Carolina Law Enforcement Division Chief Mark Keel, representatives from the Drug Enforcement Administration and Homeland Security, as well as several local sheriffs and other law enforcement partners.
Watch the full press conference in the video above.
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The University of South Carolina’s 2026 football schedule has been unveiled, it was announced tonight on the SEC Network.
The Gamecocks’ 2026 schedule features nine regular-season SEC contests, with five games at home and four on the road. The schedule also includes non-conference games versus Kent State and Towson as part of the seven-game home slate, and a non-conference road contest at Clemson.
After opening the season with three-consecutive home games for the first time since 2014, the Gamecocks will alternate home and road contests throughout the remainder of the schedule. The 2026 schedule features just one open date which will come on week 7 (October 17).
As announced on Monday, the Gamecocks will open the season on Sept. 5 by hosting Kent State. Carolina drubbed the Golden Flashes in its only previous encounter, a 77-14 decision in 1995. Kent State finished the 2025 season with a 5-7 mark overall and a 4-4 record in the Mid-American Conference.
Week 2 will see the Towson Tigers make their first trip to Williams-Brice Stadium. The Tigers compete in the FCS Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) and posted a 6-6 record in 2025 under head coach Pete Shinnick.
The Gamecocks begin their nine-game SEC gauntlet on Sept. 19 when Mississippi State visits Columbia. Carolina has won eight of the last nine meeting with the Bulldogs including a 37-30 win in 2023, the only contest played between the two schools since 2016. The Gamecocks lead the all-time series by a 10-7 margin. Mississippi State is one of seven teams on Carolina’s 2026 schedule that is playing in a post-season game this year.
The Gamecocks first road trip of the 2026 season takes them to Tuscaloosa on Sept. 26 for a date with the Alabama Crimson Tide, one of four teams on South Carolina’s 2026 slate that will appear in this year’s College Football Playoffs. It will mark the third-consecutive season that Carolina and Alabama have squared off, with the Tide narrowly winning the previous two – 27-25 in Tuscaloosa in 2024 and 29-22 in Columbia in 2025.
The Gamecocks and Kentucky Wildcats will meet in Columbia on Oct. 3. The teams met in Williams-Brice Stadium on Sept. 27, 2025, with Carolina prevailing by a 35-13 score, its fourth-straight win in a series they lead 22-14-1.
Carolina wraps up the first half of the season at Florida on Oct. 10. The Gamecocks and Gators met every year on the gridiron from 1992-2023 but have not played in either of the last two seasons. Florida holds a commanding 31-10-3 lead in the all-time series including a 17-2 advantage when playing in The Swamp. Carolina’s last win in Gainesville came in overtime the 2014 season.
After an open date on Oct. 17, the Gamecocks will return to action at home on Oct. 24 against the Tennessee Volunteers. Like Florida, the Gamecocks and Vols met every year from 1992-2023 but have not played in either of the last two seasons. Tennessee leads the all-time series by a 29-13-2 count including a narrow 10-8-2 advantage when the game has been played in Columbia.
The Gamecocks will spend Halloween in Norman playing the Oklahoma Sooners. The teams had never met prior to OU joining the SEC but have played each of the past two seasons with each team winning on the others’ home field.
The Bonham Trophy will be at stake on Nov. 7 when Texas A&M visits Williams-Brice Stadium. The Gamecocks and Aggies have met every year since A&M joined the SEC in 2014. The Aggies hold a 10-2 advantage in the all-time series, but the Gamecocks have won each of the last two meetings in Columbia.
The Gamecocks will travel to Fayetteville, Ark. for just the second time since 2013 when they tangle with the Arkansas Razorbacks on Nov. 14. South Carolina has won three of the last four games with the Hogs, but Arkansas clings to a 14-10 advantage in the all-time series.
The second-longest running series in school history behind only Carolina-Clemson, the Carolina-Georgia rivalry gets renewed on Nov. 21 when the Bulldogs make their way to Columbia from Athens. Georgia has won 55 of the previous 76 meetings between the flagship schools from neighboring states, with the Gamecocks last win coming in 2019.
The 2026 regular season comes to an end on Nov. 28 when the Gamecocks and Clemson Tigers meet in the annual Palmetto Bowl. The 2026 meeting will take place in the Upstate, where the Gamecocks have won each of their last two visits.
SEASON TICKETS
Whether you’ve been attending games for years or want to experience the magic for the first time, it’s not too early to secure your season tickets for the 2026 season. Season tickets are available for as low as $65 per game with a 10-month payment plan option available. Fans interested in purchasing season tickets for the first time, can place a season ticket deposit today for only $50 plus fees or fill out our season ticket interest form to receive more information. Current season ticket holders will receive information soon on how to renew their tickets for the 2026 season and can contact their Gamecock Club Account Representative today to enroll in the 10-month payment plan. For more information on ticket options for the 2026 season, visit 2026 Football Hub.
2026 SOUTH CAROLINA FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
Sept. 5 vs Kent State
Sept. 12 vs Towson
Sept. 19 vs Mississippi State*
Sept. 26 at Alabama*
Oct. 3 vs Kentucky*
Oct. 10 at Florida*
Oct. 17 OPEN DATE
Oct. 24 vs Tennessee*
Oct. 31 at Oklahoma*
Nov. 7 vs Texas A&M*
Nov. 14 at Arkansas*
Nov. 21 vs Georgia*
Nov. 28 at Clemson
*-SEC game
Nebraska is targeting ex-South Carolina offensive line coach Lonnie Teasley for an offensive staff role, according to the Omaha World-Herald’s Sam McKewon. The role itself is still to be determined.
Teasley spent three seasons as the Gamecocks’ offensive line coach. He had been with the program since 2021, serving as an offensive analyst. He assumed on-field coaching duties for the program in 2022.
Teasley was let go by South Carolina in October, ending his time with the program.
In addition to his coaching role, he was a strong recruiter for the Gamecocks. He most recently landed Darius Gray, the top interior offensive line recruit in the 2026 class. He was also able to land four-star offensive tackle Kamari Blair for the class as well.
Nebraska football has undergone several changes on offense over the last couple of days. They hired former Georgia Tech offensive line coach Geep Wade for the same position on Saturday, following the firing of Donovan Raiola.
The program is making sweeping changes on both sides of the football. Adding Teasley to the staff would be important for the program, which needs to be better prepared across all areas.
Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes and opinions.
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