The execution of convicted cop killer Mikal Mahdi in South Carolina has drawn national scrutiny after a firing squad failed to deliver a swift death, raising renewed ethical concerns about the method.
Mahdi, 42, was sentenced to death for the 2004 murder of Captain James Myers, an off-duty public safety officer. He chose the firing squad over other available methods, believing it would be faster and less painful.
During the execution on April 11 at Broad River Correctional Institution, Mahdi was strapped to a chair, hooded, and marked with a target over his heart. Three trained prison staff members discharged their rifles, but an autopsy later revealed that none of the bullets struck his heart directly. Instead, he suffered damage to his liver and internal organs, leading to a death that took 60 to 80 seconds.
Witnesses in the viewing chamber reported seeing Mahdi breathe, groan, and show signs of distress for over a minute after the shots were fired. Medical experts reviewing the autopsy indicated that Mahdi likely remained conscious and in pain for up to a full minute—far longer than the execution was intended to last.
Despite appeals citing Mahdi’s remorse and legal petitions for clemency, the execution proceeded as planned. The incident has intensified debate over the use of firing squads in the United States, with critics arguing the method is unreliable and inhumane in modern application.
The state has not announced any formal review of the execution process, but calls for reform and a reevaluation of capital punishment protocols are growing louder following the disturbing aftermath.