South Carolina executed a convicted murderer by firing squad on Friday, the first use of the method in the United States in 15 years.

Brad Sigmon, who admitted to killing his ex-girlfriend's parents, said he chose to die by bullets because he considered the other choices offered by the state to be worse.

A convicted double murderer has been executed by firing squad, the first such execution in the United States since 2010, according to the South Carolina Department of Corrections.