COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina put Richard Moore death by lethal injection on Friday in the 1999 shooting death of a convenience store clerk, despite a broad plea for clemency by the parties, which included three jurors and the judge at his trial, a former prison director, pastors and members of his family.

Moore, 59, was pronounced dead at 6:24 p.m.

Moore was convicted of killing James Mahoney, the Spartanburg clerk, in September 1999 and sentenced to death two years later. Moore entered the store unarmed, grabbed a gun from the victim as it was pointed at him, and fatally shot him in the chest while the victim shot him in the arm with a second gun.

Moore’s attorneys asked Republican Gov. Henry McMaster to reduce his sentence to life in prison without parole because of his impeccable prison record and his willingness to be a mentor to other inmates. They also said it would be unfair to execute someone for what could be considered self-defense and for Moore, who was black, to be the only inmate on the state’s death row convicted by a jury without any African Americans.

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

No South Carolina governor has reduced the death penalty, and 45 executions have already 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 curtain of the execution chamber was open when media witnesses arrived. Moore’s last words had already been read by Lindsey Vann, his attorney of 10 years.

Moore had his eyes closed and his head was pointed toward the ceiling. A prison employee announced that the execution could begin at 6:01 p.m. Moore took several deep breaths that sounded like snoring for the next minute. He then breathed shallowly until approximately 6:04, when his breathing stopped. Moore showed no obvious signs of discomfort.

Vann cried when the employee announced that the execution could begin. In her hand she carried a prayer bracelet with a cross. Sitting next to him was a spiritual advisor, with his hands on his knees and palms up.

Two members of the victims’ family were also present, along with attorney Barry Barnette, who was part of the prosecution team that convicted Moore. Everyone 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 sadness I caused you all,” he said. “To my sons and granddaughters, I love you and I am very proud of you. Thank you for the joy you have brought to my life. To all my family and friends, new and old, thank you for your love and support.”

Their final meal was medium-rare steak, fried catfish and shrimp, scalloped potatoes, peas, broccoli cheese, sweet potato pie, German chocolate cake, and grape juice.

Three jurors who sentenced Moore to death in 2001, including one who wrote Friday: letters sent asking McMaster to change his sentence to life in prison without parole. They were joined by a former state prison warden, Moore’s trial judge, his son and daughter, a half-dozen childhood friends and several pastors.

All said Moore, 59, was a changed man who loved God, doted on his new grandchildren as best he could, helped guards keep the peace and counseled other prisoners after his drug addiction clouded his trial and led to the shooting in which Mahoney was killed, according to the petition for clemency.

“He was not a danger to anyone, and the state 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 also created more victims. “Richard’s children are now fatherless and his grandchildren will have to grow up without their ‘Pa Pa.’”

Moore previously had two postponed execution dates as the state fixed problems that created a 13-year pause on the death penalty, including companies’ refusal to sell lethal injection drugs to the state, a hurdle that was resolved by passing a secrecy law.

Moore is the second inmate executed in South Carolina since it resumed executions. Four more are out of appeal, and the state appears set to execute them in five week intervals until spring. There are currently 30 people sentenced to death.

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