Mikal Mahdi Executed by Firing Squad in South Carolina's Second Execution in Five Weeks
Mikal Mahdi was executed by firing squad in South Carolina, marking the state's second firing squad execution in five weeks.
But South Carolina lawmakers saw it as the quickest and most humane way to kill an inmate, especially with the uncertainty in obtaining lethal injection drugs.
South Carolina executes second man by firing squad in 5 weeks
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The firing squad is an execution method with a long and violent history around the world.
South Carolina man who killed an off-duty police officer is executed by firing squad
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South Carolina kills inmate Mikal Mahdi by firing squad in state’s second execution in a hail of bullets in 5 weeks.
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Mikal’s life was a testament to systemic neglect, and his death was its final, cruel punctuation mark.
Mikal Mahdi killed by firing squad as South Carolina pushes execution spree
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Mahdi's execution marked South Carolina's second this year using a firing squad, though it's just the fifth in the U.S. since 1977.
Mikal Mahdi executed by firing squad in South Carolina for off-duty officer's brutal murder
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Given the choice of lethal injection, electrocution and firing squad, Weiss said Mahdi chose the lesser of three evils.
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Summary
Mikal Mahdi, 42, was executed by firing squad on April 11, 2025, for the 2004 murder of officer James Myers. Mahdi's execution comes just five weeks after another similar execution in South Carolina. He chose the firing squad over other methods, such as lethal injection. Witnesses reported Mahdi cried out as he was shot three times in the heart and took approximately 80 seconds to die. His last meal included ribeye steak and cheesecake. Mahdi had a long history of violence, with multiple convictions, and was the fifth inmate executed in South Carolina since September.
Perspectives
The execution of Mikal Mahdi has sparked debate around the methods and ethics of capital punishment, particularly the firing squad, seen as a controversial yet increasingly utilized execution method in South Carolina.
Mahdi's defense emphasizes the need for mental health assessments in capital cases, arguing his troubled upbringing was not adequately presented during the trial, potentially impacting the fairness of his sentencing.
As South Carolina resumes executions, concerns arise about due process and the treatment of inmates during trials, with advocates calling for reassessment of the death penalty's application.
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