Mikal Mahdi opts for firing squad over lethal injection and electric chair

In South Carolina, a significant decision has been made by death row inmate Mikal Mahdi, who is scheduled for execution on April 11, 2025. At 41 years old, Mahdi stands convicted for the murder of police officer James Myers in July 2004, a crime that involved not only the shooting but also setting the victim on fire. Mahdi's decision comes against the backdrop of a challenging legal and ethical landscape concerning methods of capital punishment, particularly in South Carolina, which permits execution by firing squad. This choice highlights the stark realities faced by convicted individuals under the death penalty system. Reactions from legal experts and human rights advocates have been divided, with many criticizing the options presented to death row inmates as inhumane. Mahdi's attorney, David Weiss, articulated that Mahdi felt he was confronted with three terrible choices—executing him in the electric chair, lethal injection, or the firing squad. Weiss emphasized that the firing squad was seen as the least painful option among a grim set of alternatives. This situation raises broader questions about the ethics of capital punishment and the manner in which it is administered in the United States, particularly in states that still uphold it as a legal sentence. Mahdi’s pending execution is drawing attention to ongoing debates regarding the death penalty and the methods used to enact it. The firing squad, while historically used in some regions, is becoming increasingly rare, with Mahdi's case following the execution of another inmate, Brad Sigmon, by firing squad on March 7, 2025. Sigmon’s execution marked a notable instance in modern American capital punishment history, being only the fourth firing squad execution since 1976. As public and judicial scrutiny about capital punishment intensifies, Mahdi's choice could influence future discussions and legislative actions regarding these lethal methods.