Mikal Mahdi suffers inhumane death after firing squad execution fails

In South Carolina, the execution of Mikal Mahdi by firing squad occurred on April 11, 2025. Mahdi was sentenced to death for the 2004 murder of off-duty police officer James Myers, whom he shot multiple times and subsequently burned his body. During the execution, a forensic pathologist hired by Mahdi's attorneys claimed that the bullets meant to quickly stop his heart missed their target and struck lower than intended. The official autopsy report indicated that only two of the bullets hit Mahdi, both below the heart, which should have been the target area, therefore preventing a rapid death and causing Mahdi to remain conscious and likely in extreme pain post-execution. Expert opinions suggested that Mahdi took 30 to 60 seconds to lose consciousness, which is significantly longer than expected for a firing squad execution. The event raised serious ethical and procedural questions about the methods employed during executions in the state. A report on the execution was submitted to the South Carolina Supreme Court, highlighting a potential violation of the standards for humane treatment during executions. Mikal Mahdi had opted for this method of execution, which allows condemned inmates in South Carolina to choose between lethal injection, electrocution, or firing squad, ensuring that they are not subjected to a method they deem inhumane. However, the execution of Mahdi brought to the forefront the ongoing debates regarding the effectiveness and humanity of capital punishment practices, especially with the evident errors in protocol that led to his prolonged suffering. As South Carolina grapples with its execution methods, advocates for death penalty reform argue that incidents like Mahdi's execution highlight the need for comprehensive reviews and potential changes in how such sentences are carried out to ensure compliance with both medical and constitutional standards for humane execution.