COLUMBIA - "Amen, Calvin."
These were the only words heard clearly in the midnight-blue witness room outside the execution chamber at Broad River Correctional Institution in Columbia as Calvin Shuler took his last breaths.
A man who appeared to be Shuler's spiritual adviser spoke those words immediately as Shuler grunted and seemingly gasped for air after what could have been a paralyzing agent entered his body.
Among the witnesses for Shuler's execution were members of the media, law enforcement, attorneys and family members of the man Shuler murdered in 1997 -- James B. Brooks.
Shuler issued no final statement prior to his execution. According to Josh Gelanis, communications director at the South Carolina Department of Corrections, that was quite unusual.
The only sounds heard at all from Shuler were the grunts at approximately 6:10 p.m. when a section of tubing -- connected to a brick wall behind Shuler -- began to shake. Shuler was breathing deep at this moment and prior, his chest and stomach seemed to rise melodiously.
By 6:11, Shuler was no longer visibly breathing deeply. It was possible he was not breathing at all.
Actions spoke louder than words as Shuler lay on the execution gurney, spread out star-like. His head was uncomfortably turned staring at the witnesses, and there was a glaze in his eyes. His lips were stiffened and there were tears beating his face to be released if they hadn't already rolled down his cheeks.
Shuler was wearing green "scrubs." His lower torso and legs were covered with a white sheet, and he was secured to the execution gurney with black, soft, cloth restraints across his body and white gauze tape securing his wrists to the gurney -- "arms wide open."
The room was quiet. Prior to the cranberry-colored curtains being drawn and the stage being set for Shuler's execution, the only sounds heard were the occasional scraping of someone's foot across the floor; an occasional sigh; a stomach or two growling in the witness room and most dominantly, the occasional humming of what seemed to be gospel tunes by the man who appeared to be Shuler's spiritual adviser.
Shuler was officially pronounced dead at 6:17 p.m., following a thorough examination of his vital signs by a medical examiner at 6:16 p.m.. Shuler died with his eyes open, staring blankly at the witness room.
Witnesses focusing on Shuler through the barred and polycarbonate thermoplastic-covered windows of the witness room seemed full of sorrow. Facial expressions were blank. Some members of the group seemed anxious. Most sat with their cheeks hung low and their eyes behind a screen of mist.
Shuler's last meal was a meal fit for any man on a Friday evening: a T-bone steak (well-done) with A-1 steak sauce, baked potato, french fries, grape drink and chocolate cake.
Shuler spent the afternoon of his death eating this meal and meeting with his spiritual adviser, who stayed with Shuler, consulting him until the hour of his death.
Shuler was calm and nonresistant prior to the hour of his death, the corrections department spokesman said.
Shuler was placed on death row on Nov. 12, 1998, upon being convicted for murder in the death of James B. Brooks on Dec. 3, 1997.
Shuler had been an employee of Anderson Armored Car Service and had briefly worked with his victims -- Brooks, driver James Amick and Sherman Crozier.
Officials say Shuler quietly and patiently waited under a house for the armored car to make its routine stop at a bank in Harleyville. When it did, he made his way from under the house, pointed a gun at the driver and shouted for the driver to get out of the truck.
Brooks apparently did his best to defend himself and the cargo with only a five-shot revolver versus the SKS assault rifle Shuler was toting. Investigators on the scene said Brooks fired every shot in his gun prior to his death.
Following the robbery and gun battle, Shuler dumped the armored car on a back road without any money to show for his actions -- all of it was either ripped to shreds by gunfire or soaked in blood. Brooks' body was found in the armored car.
Shuler confessed to the robbery and murder when questioned by police officers and FBI agents. Following his confession, Shuler's home was searched and physical evidence was found in abundance, including items containing traces of Shuler's DNA, which matched DNA found in blood inside the armored car.
Thelma Brooks, the 88-year-old widow of James Brooks, said on Thursday she was not really looking forward to the execution.
"I feel bad in a way," she said. "I hate it, but he (Shuler) deserves something. I feel so bad, but he deserves it."
Mrs. Brooks said her husband was a good man with good values and a good heart. She said her last morning with him had been "like any other morning."
"It was the same as always. He got up at about 4 a.m., went through his normal routine, eating breakfast and all and headed down to work. He woke up early so he could be there by 6 a.m."
Mrs. Brooks, who was married to her husband for almost 40 years, said he was an active member of his church, and that she could not speak of how he would feel about the execution.
"He was an excellent man," Mrs. Brooks said. "I never heard him say a bad word in my life. He never spoke bad about anyone either."
She did not attend the execution.
T&D Online News Editor Brian Troutman can be reached at btroutman@timesanddemocrat.com and 803-533-6114. Check out his blog at www.thetandd.com/blogs.