Lyndall Moore, the son of South Carolina inmate Richard Moore, has made a heartfelt appeal to authorities to stop his father’s impending execution.
In 1999, Richard Moore attempted to rob a store in Spartanburg County while unarmed. According to reports, he grabbed a gun from the clerk during a struggle and fatally shot him in the chest. Despite the tragic incident, his son and lawyers argue that Moore had no intention of killing anyone during the robbery.
Concerns have also been raised about the racial composition of the jury that convicted Moore, which included no African Americans, even though Spartanburg County was 20% Black at the time. Moore’s son has pointed out that his father is now the only prisoner left on South Carolina’s death row under these circumstances.
“He’s a human being who made mistakes,” Lyndall Moore said. “This particular mistake led to the death of another person, but his sentence is completely disproportionate to the actual crime.” With the execution date set for November 1, his supporters are ramping up efforts to save him.
Moore’s lawyers have urged the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene, arguing that the fairness of his trial is questionable due to the lack of Black jurors. They hope his death sentence will be commuted to life without parole, which would make Moore the first South Carolina inmate to receive such a reprieve since executions resumed in the U.S. in 1976.
Only South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster has the power to grant clemency. While McMaster has been reluctant to overturn jury decisions, Moore’s family and legal team argue that his behavior in prison and his dedication to helping other inmates should be considered. They describe him as deeply remorseful and regretful of his past actions.
“He’s spent the past 20 years trying to make up for the horrible, tragic decisions he made,” said attorney Lindsey Vann.
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The victim, 40-year-old James Mahoney, was a beloved clerk who had some disabilities and cared deeply for his family and co-workers. Prosecutors, including Trey Gowdy, who later served in Congress, focused on Moore’s criminal history and actions after the shooting, emphasizing that Moore continued to search for money while Mahoney lay dying.
Gowdy told the jury, “There is a time for mercy. That time has come and gone.”
Moore’s supporters argue that his trial highlights many issues with South Carolina’s death penalty system, from racial disparities to the inconsistency of death penalty cases, which can be influenced by political motivations.
Vann added, “It’s striking to imagine Richard’s trial, with a white prosecutor, white judge, white defense attorneys, and an all-white jury judging the only African American in the room.”
Richard Moore has had two previous execution dates, both postponed. His son, Lyndall, hopes Governor McMaster will take the time to truly understand his father’s transformation.
“He’s not some menacing figure. He’s just a regular person who’s had a lot of time to reflect and is deeply regretful of everything,” Lyndall said.
In 2022, Richard Moore expressed his deep remorse to The Post and Courier, saying he was “truly, truly sorry” for taking Mahoney’s life and hoped to share his story of growth and change.
