According to his lawyer, Richard Moore is the last Black man on death row in South Carolina to have been convicted and sentenced by an all-white jury. He is facing execution for the 1999 murder of a convenience store clerk during what was reported as a robbery.

Moore’s lethal injection is scheduled for Friday in connection with this case.ames Mahoney. Should this proceed, it would mark Moore as the second inmate to be executed in South Carolina within a five-week span, following over ten years without any executions in the state. Additionally, Moore would become the 21st inmate to be executed in the U.S. in 2024.

The death sentence handed down by a jury composed entirely of white members raises significant concerns regarding whether Moore received a fair trial within South Carolina’s judicial system. His lawyer contends that Moore was unarmed when he entered the convenience store and had no intention of committing robbery there.

“This isn’t as severe as some might think,” said his lawyer, Lindsey Vann, in an interview with YSL News. “It’s not the kind of intentional, cold-blooded murder that usually comes to mind when discussing the death penalty.”

Moore expressed recently that he seeks forgiveness from Mahoney’s family.

“I regret what happened. I wish I could change things,” Moore said tearfully while making a clemency appeal to the governor. “I took a life. I caused pain to someone’s family.”

Here’s everything you should know about Richard Moore’s execution, the murder he committed, and the reasons behind it. Notably, both his trial judge, two jurors, and the former head of South Carolina’s corrections department all advocate for clemency from Republican Governor Henry McMaster.

What was Richard Moore charged with?

Moore was found guilty of killing James Mahoney on September 16, 1999, at Nikki’s Speed Mart located in Spartanburg, a city in northern South Carolina.

During the trial, prosecutors informed the jury. Moore approached Mahoney with the goal of robbing Nikki’s, despite being unarmed, as reported by the Greenville News, part of the YSL News Network. During the encounter, Mahoney pulled out a .45-caliber handgun, but Moore managed to overpower and disarm him. Following this struggle, Moore accidentally shot a customer. In response, Mahoney retrieved another firearm and a gunfight broke out. Ultimately, Mahoney was killed while Moore sustained injuries to his left arm, according to the Greenville News report. Afterward, Moore exited the store with $1,400 in cash.

After allegedly spilling blood on Mahoney while stepping over him, Moore attempted to purchase crack cocaine at a nearby residence, according to prosecutors.

Moore’s lawyer contends that he was not attempting to rob the store and that a confrontation ensued only when Moore fell short by a few cents for his purchases and refused to exit the store.

The jury found Moore guilty of murder and imposed the death penalty.

He has already had two execution dates set. The initial date was in 2020; however, South Carolina lacked the necessary lethal injection drugs at that time.

Moore’s execution by firing squad was initially planned for 2022, but his lawyers succeeded in postponing it by contesting the legality of that execution method.

Who is Richard Moore?

“Richard is a dedicated Christian and a loving father and grandfather.”

His attorney, Lindsey Vann, mentioned in the clemency application that “Richard has transformed his life over the past 25 years since his arrest.” She emphasized that like many who have deepened their faith in Christ, Richard has acknowledged his past wrongdoings and actively seeks forgiveness for the harm he caused others.

Moore’s children, now in their 30s, expressed in a video for clemency that he has been a loving father to them even while imprisoned since they were just 4 and 6 years old.

“I have always known my father as an amazing dad,” shared his daughter, Alexandria Moore, in her plea for clemency addressed to McMaster. “The only memory I have of him is filled with endless love; he has always made me feel incredibly cherished and unique, and I am thankful for that.”

Moore has discovered a passion for painting during his time in prison, focusing mainly on landscape art, according to Vann.

In the clemency petition, Vann reflected on Moore’s life at the time of the crime, describing him as a devoted family man who wished to provide for them but was also battling a longstanding drug addiction.

During his adolescence, Mahoney spent his formative years near Detroit, Michigan.

She mentioned that addiction took away Mahoney’s life and impacted Moore’s freedom; however, she added that Moore “finally managed to overcome” his addiction while incarcerated and has since maintained a positive and clean lifestyle in prison.

“Neither Richard nor his legal representation intends to downplay the profound sorrow and pain the Mahoney family has endured for the last 25 years,” she stated. “His life was abruptly ended, resulting in an irreplaceable loss for his family. Yet, Richard’s death will not erase.

that is detrimental. Instead, it would take away a caring and supportive influence from the lives of his family and loved ones.

During the sentencing phase of Moore’s trial, prosecutor Trey Gowdy informed jurors that Moore had a history of assaulting numerous women over the years and had prior convictions for weapons offenses and burglary dating back to the 1980s.

Michelle Crowder recounted an incident from 1991 where Moore punched her in the neck and repeatedly kicked her in the head and back while attempting to steal her purse. She also stated that he violently attacked her fiancé when he tried to help her.

“He has been given multiple opportunities,” Gowdy remarked. “James Mahoney was not afforded any opportunity.”

Additional Support for Richard Moore’s Clemency

A number of individuals, including the judge who presided over Richard Moore’s trial, two jurors from that trial, and the former head of South Carolina’s corrections department, are advocating for his life to be spared in place of a life sentence. This information comes from Moore’s clemency petition.

Jon Ozmint, former director of the South Carolina Department of Corrections and an advocate for the death penalty, expressed hope that Governor McMaster would allow Richard to dedicate the remainder of his life to helping others. Ozmint believes Richard has undergone significant personal transformation.

Retired Circuit Court Judge Gary Clary, who handed down the death sentence, joined in urging McMaster to consider granting clemency.

“Throughout the years, I have looked into the circumstances of each individual on death row in South Carolina,” he stated. “Moore’s situation stands out, and after much contemplation, I sincerely request that you consider granting executive clemency to Mr. Moore as a gesture of kindness and compassion.”

Who is James Mahoney?

Mahoney’s relatives have not replied to a request for interviews submitted via the state’s Attorney General’s Office.

During the sentencing phase of Moore’s trial, they provided testimony indicating that the 42-year-old.

D. Mahoney was a caring uncle and a passionate NASCAR enthusiast.

“I grieve for the future we should have shared,” said Kathy Pinson, Mahoney’s younger sister, while in tears. “I long for the holidays. I miss when he would come over on Sundays to hear him knock on my back door and ask, ‘Hey sis, what’s for dinner?’ That moment will never happen again.”

What time is Richard Moore’s execution?

Moore is scheduled to be executed by lethal injection at 6 p.m. ET on Friday at the Broad River Correctional Institute in Columbia, South Carolina.

The U.S. Supreme Court rejected Moore’s plea for a halt to his execution on Thursday. The only remaining option for Moore is now with McMaster.