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South Carolina Executes Man Convicted in Police Captain’s Killing by Firing Squad
In South Carolina, Mikal Mahdi, 42, convicted of fatally shooting a police captain, was executed by a firing squad after showing no remorse for his crimes and ignoring witnesses. Mahdi faced his sentence at approximately 6 p.m. on Friday, choosing this rare method over lethal injection or the electric chair. The execution occurred at the state penitentiary, marking a controversial end to a case that has spanned years and involved the murder of Captain James Myers.
Execution Details
The convicted cop killer made no final statement prior to his execution and averted his gaze from the nine official witnesses present behind bullet-resistant glass. As the three-member volunteer firing squad discharged their rifles, striking Mahdi in the heart, he reportedly yelled out from under a hood, and his arms convulsed. A red target placed over his heart was visibly impacted by the bullets.
Witness accounts indicate that Mahdi groaned roughly 45 seconds following the shots. His breathing continued for approximately 80 seconds before he ultimately died. A medical professional formally pronounced the inmate deceased at 6:05 p.m., just four minutes after the shots were fired.
The Murder of Captain James Myers
Captain James Myers, the victim, was brutally murdered by Mahdi, suffering nine gunshot wounds before his body was set ablaze. This heinous act underscored the severity of Mahdi’s crimes.
Adding to the brutality, Mahdi had also admitted guilt in the killing of a convenience store clerk just three days prior to Myers’ murder, revealing a pattern of violent crime.
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Mahdi’s Choice of Firing Squad
According to reports from his legal representatives cited by The Mirror, Mahdi selected the firing squad as his method of execution due to his apprehension that the electric chair would “cook him alive.” He also reportedly feared lethal injection would cause him to drown in his own bodily fluids.
His execution marks the fifth instance of a firing squad being used in the United States since 1976, with the previous four occurring in Utah. Furthermore, Mahdi is the fifth individual executed in South Carolina within the last eight months.
Reactions to the Execution
Mahdi’s attorney, who was present during the execution, described the event as “horrifying.” Speaking to USA Today, the lawyer stated that such a practice is “belongs in the darkest chapters of history, not in a civilized society,” expressing strong condemnation of the method.
Conversely, South Carolina legislators have defended the firing squad as the most expeditious and humane method of capital punishment.
Background of the Case
In 2004, Mahdi confessed to the murder of Captain Myers. During his trial, prosecutors characterized him to jurors as the “epitome of evil.” Prosecutor David Pascoe asserted, “His heart and mind are full of hate and malice,” highlighting the prosecution’s view of Mahdi’s character.
Victim’s Wife’s Testimony
Amy Tripp Myers, Captain Myers’ widow, discovered his body in a shed on their property – a location of deep personal significance as it was where they had exchanged wedding vows.
In emotional testimony, she recounted, “I found the love of my life, my soulmate, the partner that my life revolved around, deceased, lying in a pool of blood and his body burned by someone who didn’t even know him.”
She further described her profound grief: “As I screamed those agonized screams of pain and distress, I instantly knew that the man whom I had just spent the last six years of my life dreaming of a beautiful future was gone like a vapor.”
Defense Arguments and Criminal History
Mahdi’s defense team argued for clemency, asserting that his life should be spared due to a history of unmet mental health needs during childhood. Reports indicated Mahdi had a documented history of suicidal thoughts and had experienced “extraordinary abuse and trauma,” according to USA Today.
Prior to the murders, in 2004 at the age of 21, Mahdi stole a neighbor’s firearm and station wagon in his home state of Virginia before traveling to North Carolina. There, he fatally shot store clerk Christopher Jason Boggs before proceeding to South Carolina where he committed a carjacking in Columbia.
He then drove to a gas station and spent 45 minutes attempting to purchase gasoline with a failing credit card. When a clerk contacted law enforcement, Mahdi fled, abandoning the vehicle. The gas station was located near Captain Myers’ farm, where Mahdi sought refuge, concealing himself in Myers’ shed, leading to the fatal encounter.
Mahdi’s Confession and Final Appeals
Following his crimes, Mahdi stole Captain Myers’ police pickup truck and was eventually apprehended in Florida.
He had already been serving a life sentence for the murder of the store clerk.
In a letter revealed by his attorneys, Mahdi admitted, “I’m guilty as hell… What I’ve done is irredeemable,” acknowledging the gravity of his actions.
His final appeals were rejected this week by both the U.S. Supreme Court and the South Carolina Supreme Court, paving the way for his execution.
Violence in Prison
Even while incarcerated on death row, Mahdi demonstrated violent behavior, stabbing a corrections officer and assaulting another with a concrete block. He was also discovered on three separate occasions with items believed to be intended for escape, including a sharpened metal piece fashioned into a knife.
“The nature of the man is violence,” prosecutors argued during his appeal, emphasizing his consistent pattern of aggression.
Currently, South Carolina has 28 inmates on death row, with only one individual having been sentenced to death in the past decade. Mahdi’s execution is the 12th in the U.S. this year.