Christa Pike Execution: Could Tennessee Turn to Firing Squad After Two Failed Pentobarbital Doses?

Could Tennessee use a different method to execute Christa Pike after two doses of pentobarbital failed to kill her? The question has emerged after the state halted its attempt to execute Pike on Sept. 30, with former Clarence Thomas clerk John Yoo publicly suggesting that Tennessee may need to consider another method if it decides to carry out her death sentence again.

Yoo said Tennessee would have to review what went wrong with the lethal injection and could consider a different execution method, including a firing squad. But a firing squad is not currently Tennessee’s statutory execution method. State law provides for lethal injection and, under specified circumstances, electrocution as an alternative. There has been no announcement that Tennessee plans to execute Pike by firing squad.

What Did John Yoo Say About a Firing Squad?

Speaking after Pike survived the lethal injection attempt, Yoo argued that Tennessee would need to address the failure before attempting to carry out the sentence again.

“TN is gonna have to go back, try again, perfect these methods, or use another kind of execution method! he reportedly said, adding: “TN could use far more ‘hurtful’ like firing squad…the lawyers have said, why not use the firing squad?”

Can Tennessee Use a Firing Squad?

Under current Tennessee law, the primary method of execution is lethal injection. The statute also provides for electrocution as an alternative in certain circumstances, including when the Tennessee Department of Correction commissioner certifies to the governor that the department is unable to carry out a death sentence by lethal injection despite making reasonable efforts.

The law does not currently identify a firing squad as Tennessee’s standard alternative method. That makes Yoo’s suggestion different from simply choosing another method already authorised under Tennessee’s execution statute.

Any attempt to introduce a firing squad for Pike would therefore raise separate legal and procedural questions.

Did Christa Pike Ask for a Different Execution Method?

Before her attempted execution, Pike’s legal team challenged Tennessee’s lethal injection protocol and raised concerns about her medical condition and difficulties with establishing IV access.

Her lawyers asked the state to use hanging instead if the execution went ahead, according to WSMV. Other reporting has also noted that Pike had sought execution by firing squad rather than lethal injection.

Her lawyers had argued that Pike’s blood disorder and problems associated with obtaining intravenous access created a risk of unnecessary suffering during lethal injection.

The state disputed those claims and maintained that her veins were accessible and that its pentobarbital protocol was lawful.

The state has not yet publicly explained why the two doses failed to produce the intended result.

The failure was particularly significant because Tennessee had already experienced problems with another lethal injection earlier in 2026. In May, officials abandoned the execution of Tony Carruthers after they were unable to establish suitable IV access for more than an hour.

What Happens to Christa Pike Now?

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has ordered a comprehensive third-party review of Pike’s failed execution. Lee also halted the state’s remaining scheduled executions for 2026 while the review takes place.

The state has not announced a new execution date for Pike. That means there is currently no confirmed plan to execute her again, whether by lethal injection, electrocution or another method.

The review is expected to examine what happened during the September 30 procedure and whether Tennessee’s execution protocol was properly followed.