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4w ago

South Carolina Prepares for Firing Squad Execution of Mikal Mahdi

Mahdi, convicted of a 2004 murder, is set to be executed on April 11 following the denial of final appeals and clemency requests.

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South Carolina's death chamber in Columbia is seen, containing the electric chair, right, and a firing squad chair, left.
Members of South Carolinians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty speak before presenting petitions to South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster asking him to grant clemency to Mikal Mahdi before his firing squad execution during a news conference on Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Collins)

Overview

  • Mikal Mahdi, 42, will be executed by firing squad for the 2004 murder of off-duty public safety officer James Myers in South Carolina.
  • Mahdi chose the firing squad over lethal injection or electrocution, citing concerns over the potential pain and suffering of alternative methods.
  • The execution will involve three volunteer prison employees firing rifles from 15 feet away, aiming at a marked target on Mahdi's chest.
  • Defense attorneys argue Mahdi's death sentence is unjust, citing his traumatic childhood, inadequate mental health care, and deficient legal representation during sentencing.
  • This will be South Carolina's second firing squad execution in recent months, showcasing the state's revived use of alternative execution methods amid ongoing national debates over capital punishment.