Inmate dies by lethal injection in South Carolina’s first execution in 13 years

Portesters picket the planned execution of Freddie Eugene Owens, 46, on Friday (Chris Carlson/AP)

South Carolina put inmate Freddie Owens to death on Friday as the state restarted executions after an unintended 13-year pause because prison officials could not get the drugs needed for lethal injections.

Owens was convicted of the 1997 killing of a Greenville convenience store clerk during a robbery.