News Summary
The execution of Mikal Mahdi by firing squad in South Carolina has reignited debates about capital punishment methods. Following his conviction for heinous crimes, Mahdi’s execution raises concerns about the firing squad’s effectiveness and ethical implications, amidst a backdrop of renewed executions in the state.
South Carolina carried out the execution of Mikal Mahdi by firing squad on April 11, 2025, at 6:05 p.m. at Broad River Correctional Institution. This event marks the second utilization of the firing squad in South Carolina within a span of just five weeks, stirring significant controversy and debate surrounding the methods of execution in the state.
Mahdi, 42, who was convicted for the murder of Orangeburg Public Safety officer James Myers in 2004, did not make a final statement before his execution began and reportedly did not gaze at the witnesses present. The execution was conducted by a three-person firing squad from a distance of approximately 15 feet, utilizing .308 Winchester rifles. Witnesses described an agonizing scene in which Mahdi cried out upon being shot and groaned several times thereafter. He was declared dead less than four minutes after the firing squad discharged their weapons.
Mahdi’s convictions included not only the murder of officer Myers, whom he admitted to shooting multiple times and subsequently burning his body, but also the murder of a convenience store clerk named Christopher Boggs earlier that same year. His execution followed a lengthy hiatus of 13 years without any executions being carried out in South Carolina, which resumed in September 2024 after a legislative decision to reintroduce capital punishment methods.
The method of execution by firing squad was legalized in South Carolina in 2021 as an option alongside lethal injection and the electric chair. Mahdi’s execution occurred after multiple appeals were denied, including petitions to both the U.S. Supreme Court and the South Carolina Supreme Court.
On the day of his execution, Mahdi’s final meal consisted of ribeye steak, mushroom risotto, broccoli, collard greens, cheesecake, and sweet tea. However, following the execution, questions arose regarding the procedure’s effectiveness. Dr. Jonathan Arden, a forensic pathologist who reviewed Mahdi’s autopsy, raised concerns that the execution may have been botched, as only two bullets struck Mahdi’s body, both located below the heart. Dr. Arden suggested that Mahdi may have remained conscious for up to 60 seconds after being shot, experiencing prolonged pain as a result.
Mahdi’s legal representation had previously contested the adequacy of his trial defense, claiming that his lawyers failed to present sufficient evidence of his background and mental health issues that could have been relevant to his case. Following the execution, his attorney condemned the practice, describing it as a return to “dark chapters of history.”
In response to the criticism surrounding the execution, the South Carolina Department of Corrections asserted that the procedure was executed according to established protocols and reported no indication of complications. Currently, there are 26 inmates on death row in South Carolina, a number that has increased as the state has expedited several executions since the resumption of capital punishment.
Mahdi’s execution has reignited discussions surrounding the use of the firing squad and broader concerns about execution methods in South Carolina, amidst ongoing debates regarding the ethical implications of the death penalty. The state’s recent reinstatement of executions raises questions about judicial processes and the treatment of inmates facing capital punishment, as advocates and opponents continue to weigh in on the moral and legal aspects of the death penalty.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
- WRDW: Execution Set in SC Double Murderer Case with Augusta Ties
- Google Search: South Carolina death penalty
- NBC News: South Carolina Inmates Firing Squad Execution
- Wikipedia: Death penalty in the United States
- AP News: Firing Squad Execution of Mikal Mahdi in South Carolina
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Capital Punishment
Author: STAFF HERE NEWBERRY
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