COLUMBIA, SC — South Carolina is putting Richard Moore to death by lethal injection Friday for the fatal shooting of a convenience store clerk in 1999, despite a broad appeal for leniency by parties that included three jurors and the judge in his trial, a former prison warden, pastors and members of his family.

Moore, 59, was pronounced dead at 6:24 p.m.

Moore was convicted of murdering Spartanburg employee James Mahoney in September 1999 and sentenced to death two years later. Moore entered the store unarmed, took a gun from the victim when it was pointed at him, and fatally shot him in the chest while the victim shot him with a second gun in the arm .

Moore’s lawyers asked Republican Gov. Henry McMaster to reduce his sentence to life in prison without the possibility of parole because of his clean record and willingness to be a mentor to other inmates. They also said it would be unfair to execute someone for what could be considered self-defense and unfair for Moore, who was black, to be the only inmate on the state’s death row convicted by a jury without any African-Americans.

But McMaster refused to grant clemency. In a letter, he did not explain why, but said he had reviewed all of the material submitted by Moore’s attorneys and had spoken to the victim’s family.

No South Carolina governor has reduced a death sentence, and 45 executions have been carried out in the state since the U.S. Supreme Court allowed states to resume them nearly 50 years ago.

Unlike previous executions, the death chamber curtain was open when media witnesses arrived. Moore’s last words had already been read by Lindsey Vann, his lawyer of 10 years.

Moore had his eyes closed and his head pointed toward the ceiling. A prison employee announced that the execution could begin at 6:01 p.m. Moore took several deep breaths that sounded like snoring over the next minute. Then he took a few shallow breaths until about 6:04 a.m., when his breathing stopped. Moore showed no obvious signs of discomfort.

Vann cried when the employee announced that the execution could begin. She was holding a prayer bracelet with a cross. Sitting next to her was a spiritual advisor, his hands on his knees, palms up.

Two family members of the victims were also present, as well as attorney Barry Barnette, who was part of the prosecution team that convicted Moore. They all watched stoically.

Afterward, prison spokeswoman Chrysti Shain read his final words at a news conference.

“To the family of Mr. James Mahoney, I am deeply sorry for the pain and heartache I have caused you all,” he said. “To my children and granddaughters, I love you and I am so proud of you. Thank you for the joy you have brought to my life. To all my family and friends, new and old, thank you for your love and support.

His last meal was medium rare steak, fried catfish and shrimp, scalloped potatoes, green peas, cheesy broccoli, sweet potato pie, German chocolate cake and grape juice. .

Three jurors who sentenced Moore to death in 2001, including one who wrote Friday: sent letters asking McMaster to change his sentence to life without parole. They were joined by a former state prison warden, the judge at Moore’s trial, his son and daughter, a half-dozen childhood friends and several pastors.

They all said Moore, 59, was a changed man who loved God, doted on his new grandchildren as best he could, helped guards keep the peace and mentored other prisoners after his drug addiction drug clouded his judgment and led to the shooting in which Mahoney was killed, according to the request for mercy.

“He posed no danger to anyone and the state eliminated a shining example of reform and rehabilitation,” the law firm Justice 360, which represented Moore, said in a statement. “By killing Richard, the state also caused more victims. Richard’s children are now fatherless and his grandchildren will have to grow up without their “Pa Pa”.

Moore previously had two postponed execution dates as the state resolved issues that led to a 13-year hiatus in the use of the death penalty, including the refusal of companies to sell lethal injection drugs to the state, an obstacle that was resolved by the adoption of a law on secrecy.

Moore is the second inmate executed in South Carolina since executions resumed. Four others are pending appeals and the state appears ready to put them to death. five week intervals until spring. There are now 30 people on death row.

The governor said before the execution that he would carefully review everything sent to him by Moore’s lawyers and, as is customary, would wait until a few minutes before the execution began to announce his decision after learning that all appeals had been completed.