COLUMBIA, SC — South Carolina put Richard Moore death by lethal injection Friday for the 1999 fatal shooting of a convenience store clerk, despite a broad appeal for clemency from 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 killing Spartanburg clerk 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 attorneys asked Republican Gov. Henry McMaster to commute his sentence to life in prison without parole because of his unblemished prison record and willingness to mentor other inmates. They also said it would be unfair to execute someone for what could be considered self-defense and unfair that Moore, who was black, was the only inmate on the state’s death row convicted by a non-African-American jury .

But McMaster refused to grant clemency. In a letter, he did not give a reason, but said he had reviewed all the articles submitted by Moore’s attorneys and had spoken with the victim’s family.

No South Carolina governor has commuted the death penalty, and 45 executions have now been carried out in the state since the U.S. Supreme Court allowed states to restart 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 attorney of 10 years.

Moore’s eyes were closed and his head was toward the ceiling. A prison employee announced that the execution could begin at 6:01 p.m. Moore took a few deep breaths that sounded like snores for the next minute. He then breathed a little until about 6:04, when his breathing stopped. Moore showed no obvious signs of discomfort.

Vann cried when the employee announced that the execution could begin. She clutched a prayer bracelet with a cross. Beside her sat a spiritual advisor, hands on knees, palms up.

Two family members of the victims were also present, along with 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 sorrow I have caused you all,” he said. “To my children and grandchildren, I love you and am so proud of you. Thank you for the joy you brought to my life. To all my family and friends, new and old, thank you for your love and support.”

His final meal was steak done medium, fried catfish and shrimp, scalloped potatoes, green peas, broccoli with cheese, 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 commute his sentence to life without parole. They were joined by a former state prison warden, Moore’s judge, his son and daughter, half a dozen childhood friends and several pastors.

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

“He was not a danger to anyone, and the state has removed a shining example of reform and rehabilitation,” the law firm Justice 360, which represented Moore, said in a statement. “By killing Richard, the state created even more victims. Richard’s children are now fatherless and his grandchildren will have to grow up without their Pa Pa.”

Moore previously had two deferred execution dates as the state ironed out problems that created a 13-year moratorium on the death penalty, including the companies’ refusal to sell lethal injection drugs to the state, an obstacle that was resolved by passing a secrecy law.

Moore is the second prisoner executed in South Carolina since it resumed executions. Four more are off the calls, and the state seems ready to put them to death five week intervals through the spring. Now there are 30 people sentenced to death.

The governor said before the execution that he would carefully review everything he sent Moore’s lawyers and, as is customary, would wait until minutes before the execution began to announce his decision after hearing that all appeals were completed.