South Carolina Executes Mikal Mahdi by Firing Squad

Mikal Mahdi, 42, was executed by firing squad in South Carolina for the 2004 murders of an off-duty police officer and a convenience store employee, marking the state's fifth execution in less than eight months. Mahdi chose the firing squad over lethal injection and the electric chair, a decision noted as part of a broader trend after the state faced difficulties obtaining lethal injection drugs. His execution followed the denial of clemency by Governor Henry McMaster and a failed last-minute appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. Advocates against the death penalty expressed their discontent, questioning the efficacy of capital punishment in providing closure to victims' families. Mahdi's case highlighted systemic issues within the justice system, including claims of inadequate legal representation during his trial. The reintroduction of the firing squad in South Carolina was a legislative response to execution delays caused by drug shortages.