In a rare and controversial move, South Carolina has carried out its second execution by firing squad in just over a month. The state executed 42-year-old Mikal Mahdi on Friday evening for the 2004 killing of an off-duty public safety officer. This marks only the second time in South Carolina history that the firing squad has been used as a method of capital punishment.
A Method Revived
The execution took place at Broad River Correctional Institution in Columbia. Mahdi, who was convicted of murdering Captain James Myers by shooting him nine times and setting his body on fire, chose the firing squad over lethal injection or the electric chair. He reportedly made the decision based on concerns about the potential suffering associated with the other methods.
Mahdi was strapped into a metal chair and a target was placed over his heart. Three prison employees, positioned behind a wall 15 feet away, fired their rifles. He was pronounced dead approximately 80 seconds later. According to witnesses, Mahdi remained silent and avoided eye contact throughout the process.
South Carolina is one of only four U.S. states—along with Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Utah—that authorize the use of firing squads. The method was reinstated in 2021 after the state struggled to obtain lethal injection drugs. According to the South Carolina Department of Corrections, the return of the firing squad was intended to ensure executions could proceed under state law.
A Broader Shift in Capital Punishment
Mahdi’s execution is the 12th in the United States so far this year and the fifth in South Carolina in less than eight months. The recent increase in executions signals a shift in how some states are approaching capital punishment following years of delays and legal challenges.
His death has reignited national debates about the ethics and humanity of various execution methods. Advocacy groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union and Amnesty International, condemned the use of the firing squad, calling it a “barbaric relic of the past.”
“The revival of firing squads represents a step backward for justice in America,” said Cassandra Moore, a spokesperson for the ACLU. “No form of execution is humane, but this one is especially gruesome and archaic.”
Despite the criticism, state officials defended the decision, emphasizing that the method was chosen by the inmate and carried out in accordance with state law. South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, who rejected a clemency request, has previously stated his support for capital punishment in “the most heinous” of crimes.
Legal and Mental Health Controversies
Mahdi’s legal team had raised concerns about his mental health in the years leading up to his execution. Attorneys argued that he suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, citing childhood abuse and long-term solitary confinement during his teenage years.
They contended that executing someone with such a background was cruel and violated constitutional protections.
However, the South Carolina Supreme Court denied Mahdi’s final appeal, and no stay of execution was granted. The case has prompted calls for renewed scrutiny of how mental health factors into capital punishment decisions.
“We failed Mikal long before his execution date,” said criminal defense attorney Jeanine Russell, who has worked on death penalty cases in the state. “This case should force lawmakers to revisit how we assess competency and rehabilitation.”
The Future of Executions in South Carolina
Mahdi’s execution follows that of another inmate, Richard Bernard Moore, who was also executed by firing squad just five weeks earlier. Moore had also opted for this method after challenging the constitutionality of the electric chair and the availability of lethal injection drugs.
South Carolina’s renewed use of firing squads has led to growing concern about the state’s capital punishment system. While some support it as a necessary tool for justice, others question its morality and effectiveness.
A 2023 Gallup poll found that national support for the death penalty remains high, but opinions on specific execution methods are more divided. Only 27% of Americans say they view firing squads as an acceptable means of execution.
Advocates for victims’ rights argue that the state is delivering justice for those affected by violent crime. “For the families of officers like Captain Myers, accountability matters,” said law enforcement union leader Tom Jenkins. “These executions send a message that killing a public servant has consequences.”
Yet others see Mahdi’s death as another step away from a more compassionate criminal justice system. Civil rights organizations have renewed their push for South Carolina to join the growing number of states that have abolished the death penalty.
Conclusion
The execution of Mikal Mahdi underscores South Carolina’s determination to resume capital punishment despite the controversy surrounding the firing squad. As more executions are scheduled and legal challenges continue, the state finds itself at the center of a national conversation about the death penalty’s place in modern America.
The stark image of a man strapped to a chair with a target over his heart may leave a lasting impression, raising moral, legal, and ethical questions that extend far beyond one prison wall in Columbia.
For official updates and information regarding executions in South Carolina, visit the South Carolina Department of Corrections.
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