Volunteers to shoot dead eight prisoners in Idaho's swanky new $1million killing chamber: 'It can be prolonged and agonizing'

Published: 07:32, 2 July 2026 | Updated: 07:58, 2 July 2026 Eight death row inmates could soon be marched into Idaho’s newly built $1.2million execution chamber, after the state officially made the firing squad its primary method of carrying out the death penalty. Beginning July 1, Idaho became the only state in America where condemned inmates will, by default, face a hail of bullets instead of lethal injection—a dramatic policy shift prompted by last year’s botched attempt to execute convicted murderer Thomas Eugene Creech. Republican Gov. Brad Little, who seeks a third term this November, signed both firing squad bills into law. The 2025 bill delayed implementation so IDOC had time to rebuild its execution chamber.  State officials have now unveiled the chilling blueprint for exactly how those executions will unfold in the Maximum Security State Prison, from recruiting volunteer police officers to pulling the trigger, to the possibility of a second volley of bullets if the unlucky inmate survives the first. Rather than relying on prison execution specialists, Idaho will recruit six volunteer law enforcement officers to form each firing squad. Three primary officers will fire the fatal shots from, while two alternates stand by in reserve. A sixth officer will act as team leader, loading the IDOC -owned rifles and directing the execution. The identities of every volunteer will remain confidential under state law. Only the prison director and deputy director will know who the shooters are. Idaho is preparing to usher in one of America's most controversial execution methods: a firing squad  On July 1, Idaho became the only state in the nation to make the procedure it's primary execution method. The policy change was prompted by years of failed lethal injections The state has not carried out an execution since June 2012. The move has sparked fierce debate from policy makers and citizens alike. However, not every officer can volunteer. Those selected must be certified Idaho law enforcement officers with at least three years of Peace Officer Standards and Training certification. They cannot have disciplinary findings involving excessive force or firearms and must not be related by blood or marriage to the condemned inmate, the victim or either family. Before they are approved, each volunteer must repeatedly hit a specific heart-sized target without missing during firearms qualification testing. The executions will take place inside the Idaho Maximum Security Institution south of Boise, where taxpayers have spent more than $1.2million transforming the state’s execution chamber. Construction work cost more than $900,000, while architectural design and engineering services added another $314,000. The state has also purchased five Daniel Defense DD5-P rifles chambered in .308 Winchester, fitted with scopes, suppressors and bipods, at a cost of more than $24,000. The particular rifle model includes components designed to reduce recoil and is 'engineered for reliability in demanding conditions,' the manufacturer’s website stated. On the day before an execution, the condemned inmate will be offered a mild sedative. An additional sedative may be given several hours before the execution itself. State prison leadership has sought to avoid needing to rely on volunteers among corrections officers to pull the triggers in an execution, IDOC Director Bree Derrick previously said. The agency explored the possibility of a remote-operated system, but one did not come to fruition The state's execution chamber has undergone extensive renovation, costing more then $900,000 while design and engineering added another $314,000 bringing the total project cost to over $1.2 million  The prisoner will then be escorted into the execution chamber and strapped into a specially designed execution chair. Medical equipment will be attached to monitor the inmate’s heart, and a target will be placed directly over the prisoner’s chest. The prison director will read the death warrant aloud before offering the inmate a final opportunity to make a last statement. Prisoners may also request an eye covering before the shooting begins. The three volunteer shooters will stand roughly 10 yards away behind a protective wall, aiming through a narrow opening measuring about one foot wide, orders given to limit the squads exposure to the area and minimize the potentially traumatic effects on those involved in the process. After receiving the order, each officer will fire a single .308-caliber round simultaneously toward the inmate’s heart. Medical personnel will monitor the prisoner’s heart activity using an electrocardiogram for up to two minutes. If officials determine the inmate remains alive, prison authorities can authorize a second volley of shots before the county coroner formally pronounces death. The volunteers will not simply appear on execution day.  Republican Brad Little, who seeks a third term this November, was responsible for signed both firing squad bills into effect To remain qualified, members of the firing squad must complete quarterly live-fire training exercises and participate in regular execution rehearsals. Once an execution warrant is signed, weekly training sessions will begin, with multiple full rehearsals held before the scheduled execution. The dramatic overhaul follows Idaho’s failed attempt to execute Creech in February 2024. Execution staff spent about an hour attempting to establish an intravenous line for lethal injection, puncturing Creech multiple times before ultimately abandoning the execution altogether. The unprecedented failure intensified scrutiny of lethal injection and prompted lawmakers to make the firing squad the state’s primary execution method. Idaho currently has eight prisoners on death row—seven men and one woman—all convicted of murder. Supporters argue firing squads provide a more dependable means of carrying out executions after years of problems with lethal injection drugs and failed procedures across the United States. Opponents say replacing one execution method with another does nothing to resolve the ethical concerns surrounding capital punishment. Robin Maher, executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center, criticized the new system, saying: “Every new execution method in history has been introduced with the promise that it will be foolproof and ‘more humane’ than the previous method. Unfortunately, those promises have always been broken.” She added that Idaho officials had spent more than $1million of taxpayer money implementing 'a firing squad—a method of execution that has already proven to be as flawed as any other.' The IDOC Director Bree Derrick hit back with a polished statement to the Idaho Statesman, 'The Idaho Department of Correction recognizes the gravity of carrying out a court-ordered execution and the responsibility that comes with it,' Our procedures are designed to ensure that any execution is conducted in a secure, orderly, and dignified manner while safeguarding the rights of all individuals involved and maintaining the safety and security of staff, witnesses, and the public.' The Daily Mail has reached out to Bree Derrick and Robin Maher for comment.  No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? 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