Mikal Mahdi faces execution by firing squad in South Carolina

In the United States, specifically South Carolina, Mikal Mahdi is scheduled to be executed by firing squad on April 11, 2025. He was convicted for the 2004 murder of off-duty Orangeburg Public Safety officer James Myers, having shot him multiple times before setting his body on fire. This execution is particularly notable as it marks the second use of firing squad in the state after a long interval, with the first such execution taking place just last month. Mahdi opted for this execution method over lethal injection or the electric chair. The execution protocols in South Carolina have drawn attention as some details remain secret due to legal requirements. In the execution chamber, Mahdi will wear a target on his chest, and three volunteer prison staff members will simultaneously fire at him using rifles loaded with .308-caliber ammunition designed to inflict maximum harm to the heart. This method has raised ethical questions and concerns over the humane nature of such an execution, especially given previous controversies involving lethal injections. Mahdi's defense team has raised arguments regarding the appropriateness of his punishment, considering the changes he has undergone since the time of the crime. His lawyers suggest that Mahdi now embodies a different persona from the confused and angry young man who committed the crime nearly two decades prior. They emphasize the need for a comprehensive examination of all circumstances surrounding Mahdi's life and past experiences, which they argue were hardly represented during his trial. In the broader context, South Carolina reinstated execution protocols relatively recently after a significant hiatus due to difficulties in sourcing lethal injection drugs, an issue that has plagued other states as well. The state has executed several inmates since resuming the death penalty in September 2024, with the current case spotlighting ongoing debates about capital punishment methods and their humaneness. The utilization of firing squads is controversial, and questions linger about its implications for justice and morality within the penal system.