The execution of South Carolina inmate Mikal Mahdi is scheduled for Friday, marking the second use of a firing squad in the state within five weeks. Mahdi, who was sentenced to death for ambushing and killing an off-duty police officer two decades ago, will become the fifth inmate executed in South Carolina in less than eight months. This follows a 13-year hiatus on capital punishment while legal appeals were exhausted.
Opting for three bullets to the heart, Mahdi chose this method over lethal injection or the electric chair. The state’s decision to utilize the firing squad comes as an alternative due to challenges in acquiring lethal injection drugs. Mahdi will be the twelfth person executed in the United States this year, with previous executions using nitrogen gas, lethal injection, and the firing squad across various states.
The execution will occur at 6 p.m. in a Columbia prison, where a small group of witnesses will observe from behind bulletproof glass. Mahdi will be secured in a chair, a target placed over his heart, and a hood over his head before the curtain reveals the firing squad. The shooters, positioned 15 feet away, will fire high-powered rifles aimed at Mahdi, ending his life almost instantaneously. A doctor will then confirm his death.
Mahdi admitted to the murder of Officer James Myers in 2004, a crime in which he shot Myers multiple times and burned his body. The crime took place near a gas station where Mahdi attempted to use a stolen credit card. He was captured in Florida, driving Myers’ vehicle. Mahdi also confessed to killing Christopher Boggs, a convenience store clerk, and received a life sentence for that crime.
His final appeal was rejected by the South Carolina Supreme Court, with his defense arguing that his original lawyers failed to present a comprehensive case for clemency. Mahdi’s traumatic childhood and behavioral issues went largely unaddressed during his initial trial, which his lawyers claim influenced his violent tendencies.
The upcoming execution concludes a period of increased activity in South Carolina’s death chamber, where the state has executed multiple inmates since legal proceedings resumed. This was made possible by legislative changes permitting the use of a firing squad and maintaining confidentiality for drug suppliers and execution procedures.
The Tangible Impact
The resurgence of firing squad executions in South Carolina raises significant questions about the ethical and legal implications of capital punishment methods. For the community, this decision may evoke mixed feelings, balancing justice with the humane treatment of convicted individuals. The use of a firing squad, regarded as a historically brutal method, challenges society’s perception of progress in the criminal justice system.
For families of victims, such as those of Officer Myers, the execution may provide a sense of closure. However, it also highlights the prolonged and emotionally taxing journey through the appeals process. As the state continues to execute sentences after a lengthy pause, it may prompt discussions on the broader implications of capital punishment, its deterrence effect, and the moral considerations of its practice.