Mikal Mahdi: An In-Depth Look at South Carolina’s Botched Firing Squad Execution
The execution of Mikal Mahdi in South Carolina has sparked a nationwide debate about the use and reliability of firing squads as a method of capital punishment. In April 2025, Mahdi’s execution was carried out by a three-person firing squad at the Broad River Correctional Facility. The circumstances and aftermath have raised serious questions about protocol, training, and the ethics behind such executions.
Who Was Mikal Mahdi?
Mikal Mahdi was sentenced to death in South Carolina in 2006 after being convicted of killing a public safety officer. On April 11, 2025, he became the second person in seven months to be executed by firing squad in the state. Mahdi’s case drew national attention after reports suggested that the execution may not have gone according to plan, leading to a prolonged and painful death.
What Went Wrong With the Firing Squad Execution?
Autopsy records and multiple witness accounts revealed major deviations from protocol during Mahdi’s execution. According to NPR, only two bullet wounds were found on Mahdi’s chest, despite three shooters being present. Neither bullet directly hit the heart. This likely meant Mahdi suffered conscious pain and distress for 30 to 60 seconds, much longer than the expected 10 to 15 seconds if the heart had been struck.
A forensic pathologist hired by Mahdi’s lawyers, Dr. Jonathan Arden, reviewed the autopsy and testified that it would be "extraordinarily uncommon" for two bullets to enter the exact same spot, yet this was the conclusion proposed by the official state pathologist. Additionally, the autopsy did not include X-rays or examination of Mahdi's clothes to verify bullet pathways or target placement. This lack of clarity raises concerns about the handling and transparency of executions in the state.
Eyewitness Testimony and Witness Accounts
Reporters and Mahdi’s attorney, David Weiss, who witnessed the execution, observed the target placed low on Mahdi’s chest. As the shots were fired, witnesses heard Mahdi cry out, groan, and struggle to breathe, with his death being declared several minutes after the shots. The prolonged agony directly contradicted assurances previously given by the South Carolina Supreme Court, which had claimed that the firing squad was not cruel because pain would not last longer than 15 seconds—unless there was a major error.
Legal and Ethical Implications
Mahdi’s lawyers quickly notified the state Supreme Court about what they called a "botched execution." They argued that the evidence of pain and the failure to follow proper procedures raise constitutional issues regarding cruel and unusual punishment. South Carolina revived the firing squad after years of difficulty obtaining lethal injection drugs, but Mahdi’s case shows that this method comes with its own risks and uncertainties.
These issues are not unique to firing squads. Questions about the humaneness of lethal injection and the electric chair have also persisted. As highlighted in coverage by CBS News, autopsies from prior executions showed lethal injection can result in pulmonary edema, causing death by drowning, while electrocutions have left visible burns.
Is the Firing Squad a Humane Alternative?
The assumption has been that firing squads would provide a quick and relatively painless death if targets are hit accurately. However, Mahdi’s prolonged suffering underscores the challenge of guaranteeing this outcome. The lack of proper documentation and the possibility that some shooters missed entirely or that guns malfunctioned all point to deeper flaws in the process.
The spotlight on Mikal Mahdi’s story compels the public and courts to reassess whether any execution method can truly be considered humane and reliably conducted.
Conclusion: Lessons From the Mikal Mahdi Case
The case of Mikal Mahdi serves as a somber reminder of the potential for error and suffering in capital punishment. With new questions about training, oversight, and transparency, South Carolina and other states that permit firing squad executions face renewed pressure to review their procedures. As debate continues, Mahdi’s experience stands as a case study on the limits and grave consequences of current death penalty practices.
To learn more about the complexities of execution methods and investigation details, read further on NPR’s in-depth report, as well as The Guardian’s coverage of autopsy findings.