Mikal Mahdi, aged 42, endured a prolonged death in April 2025 when a South Carolina firing squad failed to hit the designated target on his heart. The execution, the second of its kind in the state this year, raised serious questions about the method’s reliability and humaneness, which had been revived after decades of disuse. Autopsy records, reviewed by Mahdi’s legal team, indicate that the shots deviated from protocol, causing extended suffering. This case has reignited debates over the death penalty in the United States and the challenges of execution methods.
South Carolina resumed executions in 2024 after a 13-year hiatus, prompted by difficulties in securing lethal injection drugs. The state reintroduced firing squads as an alternative, alongside the electric chair and lethal injection. Mahdi’s choice of the firing squad reflected distrust in other methods, particularly after reports of botched lethal injections.
- Recent timeline: South Carolina conducted five executions since September 2024.
- Available methods: Inmates can choose between firing squad, lethal injection, or electric chair.
- Firing squad history: The last US firing squad execution before 2025 was in Utah in 2010.
- Public debate: Activists denounce the method as archaic and cruel.
Public response to the execution error
The revelation of Mikal Mahdi’s botched execution sparked outrage among human rights advocates and attorneys. Autopsy records, submitted to the South Carolina Supreme Court, show two bullet wounds in Mahdi’s chest but suggest the shots missed the heart, violating protocol. Pathologist Jonathan Arden, hired by Mahdi’s lawyers, noted that the likelihood of two bullets entering the same wound is extremely low, pointing to a failure in aim. This error undermines the state’s claim of a swift death, with unconsciousness expected within 10 to 15 seconds.
Mahdi’s legal team, led by David Weiss from the federal public defender’s office, argued that the mistake violates standards set by the state’s Supreme Court. The court had approved firing squads in 2024, deeming them non-cruel if executed properly. The attorneys emphasized that Mahdi’s execution was the kind of “massive failure” the court sought to prevent.
Firing squad history in South Carolina
The reinstatement of firing squads in South Carolina stems from a shortage of lethal injection drugs, a challenge faced by multiple US states. In 2023, the state passed a secrecy law shielding details about the sourcing of execution drugs, increasing inmates’ distrust. Brad Sigmon, executed in March 2025, was the first to face a firing squad in the state, marking the method’s return after a 15-year absence in the US.
Historically, firing squads were used for colonial mutinies and desertions during the Civil War. In the modern era, only Utah employed the method, with executions in 1977, 1996, and 2010. South Carolina modified its execution chamber to include a firing squad chair, positioned 15 feet from the shooters, roughly the distance of a basketball free-throw line.
- Structural changes: The execution chamber was renovated in 2022 to accommodate firing squads.
- Shooter training: Prison staff undergo rigorous training, per state claims.
- Official protocol: Three volunteer shooters fire simultaneously, aiming at a chest target.
Mikal Mahdi’s background
Mikal Mahdi was convicted of murdering police captain James Myers in 2004, a case that shocked South Carolina. Mahdi, who also burned the victim’s body, grew up in a violent household, witnessing severe abuse against his mother. His attorneys noted he was pulled from school in fifth grade after authorities flagged his need for psychological support. As an inmate, Mahdi accrued infractions, including assaults on guards and possession of escape tools.
Mahdi opted for the firing squad, believing it would be less painful than other methods. Reports of prolonged suffering in lethal injection cases influenced his decision. His violent past and the details of his execution have fueled discussions about the prison system and capital punishment.
Autopsy findings
The autopsy, conducted by pathologist Bradley Marcus, identified two bullet wounds in Mahdi’s chest, each about half an inch wide. Marcus suggested one wound might have resulted from two bullets, but Jonathan Arden, hired by the defense, disputed this. Arden noted that the lack of X-rays or clothing analysis hindered precise evaluation of the target’s placement. A photograph taken by Marcus, submitted to the Department of Corrections, confirmed only two visible wounds.
Arden’s report indicated the shots hit only one ventricle of Mahdi’s heart, likely extending his consciousness beyond the expected 15 seconds. This failure contradicts the state’s assurances of a quick and effective method, raising concerns about the shooters’ training.
- Autopsy procedure: Limited exam, lacking X-rays or clothing analysis.
- Conflicting conclusions: Pathologists disagree on bullet trajectories.
- Legal implications: Attorneys question the method’s constitutionality.
Comparison with other execution methods
Lethal injection, the most common US execution method, faces criticism for botched procedures. Autopsies from 1990 to 2019 showed pulmonary edema in 84% of lethal injection cases, causing a drowning-like sensation. In South Carolina, the 2024 executions of Marion Bowman and Richard Moore required double doses of pentobarbital, extending the process beyond 20 minutes in some instances.
The electric chair, another option in the state, is often avoided. Brad Sigmon, executed before Mahdi, rejected it, fearing it would “cook” his body. The firing squad, despite its brutality, was initially touted as a straightforward alternative, but Mahdi’s case exposed its flaws.
Judicial system response
The South Carolina Supreme Court received Mahdi’s autopsy records in May 2025 but has yet to issue a ruling. The court had authorized firing squads based on testimony, including from pathologist Arden, who now challenges Mahdi’s execution. The legal team demands a protocol review, arguing the state failed to meet established guidelines.
The South Carolina Department of Corrections defended its shooters’ training, claiming volunteers undergo thorough preparation. However, the 2023 secrecy law limits transparency, complicating verification of these claims.
- Defense arguments: The execution violated humaneness standards.
- State’s stance: Training is sufficient, but details remain confidential.
- Next steps: The court may reassess firing squad legality.
South Carolina’s execution timeline
Since September 2024, South Carolina has executed five inmates, an unusual pace after years without executions. The resumption followed the acquisition of pentobarbital, though sourcing details are protected by law. Beyond Mahdi and Sigmon, three others faced lethal injection, with outcomes raising concerns about prolonged suffering.
The state plans to continue executions, with several inmates nearing the end of their appeals. Mahdi and Sigmon’s choice of firing squads reflects growing distrust in traditional methods, but recent errors may spur legislative changes.
Public debate and activism
Human rights organizations escalated criticism of firing squads after Mahdi’s execution. Activists protested in Columbia, the state capital, during Brad Sigmon’s execution in March 2025. Religious leaders and abolition advocates collected signatures for clemency, to no avail.
Public opinion on firing squads is polarized. Polls indicate most Americans support the death penalty, but many view firing squads as outdated. Mahdi’s botched execution has bolstered arguments that no method is error-free.
- Organized protests: Activists gathered outside the prison during Mahdi’s execution.
- Online campaigns: X posts amplified public outrage.
- Petitions: Thousands signed against firing squads.
Historical context of the death penalty
The US death penalty has a complex history, with significant shifts over time. Firing squads, though rare today, were common in military contexts. The introduction of lethal injection in the 1970s aimed to reduce execution brutality, but drug shortages prompted states like South Carolina, Mississippi, and Oklahoma to legalize firing squads again.
Since 1976, over 1,500 US executions have occurred, with lethal injection dominating. Firing squads, used only three times since then, remain controversial, with proponents citing speed and critics highlighting their violence.
Witnesses’ experience
Journalists and witnesses to Brad Sigmon’s execution described the firing squad as swift but viscerally violent. Associated Press reporter Jeffrey Collins noted the tension as the chamber’s curtain opened, revealing Sigmon with a red target on his chest. The sound of gunfire echoed, and Sigmon’s body slumped instantly.
Mahdi’s execution, though lacking detailed witness accounts, followed a similar protocol. The 15-foot distance between shooters and the condemned, designed for accuracy, failed to ensure precision, as the autopsy revealed.
- Chamber environment: Bulletproof glass separates witnesses from shooters.
- Visual procedure: A hood covers the condemned’s face.
- Witness reactions: Journalists report intense emotional impact.
Future implications
Mahdi’s case is under scrutiny, with attorneys pushing for greater transparency in execution protocols. The failure exposed systemic vulnerabilities, including the lack of detailed post-mortem exams like X-rays. Groups like the Death Penalty Information Center note that firing squads, though rare, are not immune to errors, mirroring other methods.
South Carolina faces pressure to revise its practices, particularly after five executions in seven months. The firing squad’s future as an option hinges on judicial rulings and public opinion, which remains divided.