Inmate’s Controversial Execution Choice: Firing Squad

Weathered Death Row sign on aged concrete wall

South Carolina death row inmate Mikal Mahdi has chosen to die by firing squad for the murder of a police officer, calling it “the lesser of three evils” compared to the electric chair or lethal injection.

Key Takeaways

Mikal Mahdi, convicted of murdering police officer James Myers in 2004, will be executed by firing squad on April 11 in South Carolina.
Through his lawyer, Mahdi stated he chose firing squad over electric chair or lethal injection as “the lesser of three evils.”
This will be the second firing squad execution in South Carolina in just over a month, following Brad Sigmon’s execution on March 7.
Only three other inmates have been executed by firing squad in the United States since 1976, all in Utah.
Mahdi’s lawyers have filed a final appeal citing inadequate defense during his original trial.

The Crime and Conviction

Mikal Mahdi’s criminal activities in July 2004 began with stealing a gun and car, followed by killing a store clerk and carjacking. His violent spree culminated on July 18, 2004, when he ambushed and murdered public safety officer James Myers in Orangeburg, South Carolina. Court records show that Mahdi shot Myers multiple times and then set his body on fire. Following a manhunt, authorities captured Mahdi in Florida on July 21, 2004. He later pleaded guilty to the murder and received a death sentence.

Choosing Death by Firing Squad

In a decision that has reignited debate about execution methods, Mahdi has selected firing squad for his April 11 execution. According to his lawyer, David Weiss, this choice reflects Mahdi’s perspective on what constitutes the most humane option available to him in South Carolina. The state requires death row inmates to choose between three methods: electric chair, lethal injection, or firing squad.

The execution will be carried out by three prison employees who volunteered for the firing squad, using rifles loaded with live ammunition. This process mirrors the recent execution of Brad Sigmon, who on March 7 became the first U.S. prisoner executed by firing squad in 15 years. Prior to Sigmon, only three inmates had been executed by this method in the United States since 1976, all in Utah.

Legal Challenges and Final Appeals

Mahdi’s legal team has mounted a final appeal, arguing that he received inadequate representation during his original trial. His lawyers contend that his defense presentation “didn’t even span the length of a Law & Order episode, and was just as superficial.”

Defense organizations supporting Mahdi point to his traumatic background and time spent in solitary confinement as factors that should be considered. However, prosecutors maintain that Mahdi’s extensive violent history justifies the death sentence. The state Attorney General’s Office responded sharply to defense claims, noting that review of any potential error in Mahdi’s case “is in its 24th season.” Mahdi has one remaining option: seeking clemency from Governor Henry McMaster, though no clemency has been granted in South Carolina since 1976.

South Carolina’s Recent Execution History

With Mahdi’s scheduled execution, South Carolina will have executed four inmates in the past seven months. This marks a significant increase in the state’s use of capital punishment after a period of relative inactivity. The return to firing squad executions has drawn attention to South Carolina’s approach to the death penalty at a time when many states are moving away from capital punishment or facing challenges securing lethal injection drugs.

As April 11 approaches, the case continues to highlight the complex moral and ethical questions surrounding capital punishment in America, particularly regarding which methods of execution, if any, can be considered humane. The debate extends beyond Mahdi’s individual case to broader questions about justice, punishment, and the constitutional prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment.