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COLUMBIA — Mikal Mahdi took about three minutes to die April 11 after three bullets from rifles of state's executioners tore through his chest. The Virginia man convicted of murdering a police officer in South Carolina let out a yell as he was struck, media witnesses said after his execution. Nine people watched Mahdi, dressed in black and with a hood over his head, as he groaned and moaned twice more before he took his final breath, media witnesses said.
"It was very much like a deep heave," said Brian McConchie, a FOX57 Columbia news anchor. "The chest expanded outwardly by quite a bit, and then it was like a collapse." Mikal Mahdi, 40 Mahdi was executed at 6:01 p.
m. April 11 and pronounced dead at 6:05 p.m.
He is the second person in South Carolina to be executed by firing squad. "There was certainly some agony in the cries. I can't tell how much pain he felt.
It's impossible to say," said Jeffrey Collins, a reporter for the Associated Press. "There was agony in it, certainly." Collins said Brad Sigmon, who was executed by firing squad before Mahdi, did not make any sound when he was killed.
Orangeburg Department of Public Safety Capt. James Myers, seen in an undated portrait wearing his uniform. Myers was killed by Mikal Mahdi on July 18, 2004, while off-duty.
Mahdi murdered Orangeburg Department of Public Safety Capt. James Myers on July 18, 2004, when he shot the off-duty officer nine times and then set his body on fire as part of a crime spree that stretched from Virginia to Florida. Mahdi pleaded guilty in 2006.
Now-retired Circuit Judge Clifton Newman imposed the death sentence after hearing from defense and prosecuting witnesses. Mahdi is believed to have killed three people, though he was only convicted for two deaths. The other was a convenience store clerk in North Carolina.
A member of Myers' family watched as Mahdi was executed. In the hours before his execution, Gov. Henry McMaster denied Mahdi’s request for clemency.
The U.S. Supreme Court also rejected his request for an emergency pause of execution that was based on claims from his team that he was a product of abuse by his father and the state of Virginia’s use of solitary confinement on children.
David Weiss, Mahdi's lead attorney, said in a statement that Mahdi never had a chance in life and that the state's execution of him "belongs in the darkest chapters of history, not in civilized society." Mahdi's childhood had been stolen by a mentally ill and abusive father, and then he spent his years as a teenager in juvenile detention centers and solitary confinement, Weiss said. Mahdi did not issue last words.
His last meal, served on April 9, was ribeye steak cooked medium, mushroom risotto, broccoli, collard greens, cheesecake and sweet tea. Sabrina Setaro, from York, embraces the bars of a fence outside the SC Department of Corrections as Mikal Mahdi is executed, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Columbia. Law enforcement officers lean against a truck outside of the S.
C. Department of Corrections, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Columbia. S.
C. Department of Corrections Director of Communications Chrysti Shain speaks to members of the media and introduces media witnesses after the execution of Mikal Mahdi, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Columbia. Sabrina Setaro holds onto the fencing outside the SC Department of Corrections around the time of the execution of Mikal Mahdi, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Columbia.
Noel Nickle and Ron Kaz set up outside the fences of the S.C. Department of Corrections to protest the execution of Mikal Mahdi, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Columbia.
Bucky Bruce holds up signage protesting the execution of Mikal Mahdi outside the SC Department of Corrections, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Columbia. Bill Scicchitano gets on his knees and prays at the fence of the S.C.
Department of Corrections before the execution of Mikal Mahdi, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Columbia. Bucky Bruce holds an umbrella up to shield from the rain outside of the SC Department of Corrections protesting the execution of Mikal Mahdi, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Columbia. Noel Nickel and Ron Kaz sit under an umbrella amidst the weather to protest the execution of Mikal Mahdi at the SC Department of Corrections, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Columbia.
Law enforcement officers prepare before the execution of Mikal Mahdi at the SC Department of Corrections, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Columbia. Protesters begin to set up signs outside the fencing of the SC Department of Corrections ahead of the execution of Mikal Mahdi, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Columbia. Law enforcement officers wait for vehicles entering the grounds of the SC Department of Corrections, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Columbia.
Media witnesses Martha Rose Brown and Brian McConchie hold their notebooks before describing what they saw to members of the media at the execution of Mikal Mahdi, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Columbia. Media witness AP reporter Jeffrey Collins describes the experience and what he saw at the execution of Mikal Mahdi at the SC Department of Corrections, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Columbia. Fox 57 reporter and media witness Brian McConchie speaks to members of the media after the execution of Mikal Mahdi, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Columbia.
Media witness Martha Rose Brown of the Orangeburg Times-Democrat speaks to members of the media about what she saw at the execution of Mikal Mahdi, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Columbia. Bill Scicchitano holds a rosary in his hand while praying for all those involved in the execution of Mikal Mahdi, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Columbia. Protesters cast deep shadows on the grass in front of the SC Department of Corrections fence where Mikal Mahdi’s execution is about to be carried out, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Columbia.
Members of the media listen to witnesses of the execution of Mikal Mahdi at the SC Department of Corrections, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Columbia. AP reporter and media witness Jeffrey Collins takes notes while media witnesses share what they saw at the execution of Mikal Mahdi, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Columbia. Easter decorations hang on the wall above the exit door at the SC Department of Corrections before the execution of Mikal Mahdi, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Columbia.
Protesters gather on the grass at the fence outside of the SC Department of Corrections before the execution of Mikal Mahdi, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Columbia. Bill Scicchitano prays for all those involved in the execution of Mikal Mahdi outside the fence of the SC Department of Corrections, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Columbia. A protester holds up scripture excerpts and a rosary while protesting the execution of Mikal Mahdi at the SC Department of Corrections, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Columbia.
Protesters hold a moment of silence for Mikal Mahdi moments before his execution at the SC Department of Corrections, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Columbia. Protesters hold signs through the fence and clasp bars around the SC Department of Corrections around the time of the execution of Mikal Mahdi, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Columbia. Protesters hold up signs for drivers to see at the execution of Mikal Mahdi at the SC Department of Corrections, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Columbia.
A police officer watches protesters through a fence at the SC Department of Corrections around the time of the execution of Mikal Mahdi, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Columbia. Photos: Mikal Mahdi's execution by firing squad in Columbia Mikal Mahdi was executed by firing squad on Friday, April 11, 2025 at the SC Department of Corrections. Protesters gathered outside the fence until the time of his death.
Sabrina Setaro, from York, embraces the bars of a fence outside the SC Department of Corrections as Mikal Mahdi is executed, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Columbia. Law enforcement officers lean against a truck outside of the S.C.
Department of Corrections, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Columbia. S.C.
Department of Corrections Director of Communications Chrysti Shain speaks to members of the media and introduces media witnesses after the execution of Mikal Mahdi, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Columbia. Sabrina Setaro holds onto the fencing outside the SC Department of Corrections around the time of the execution of Mikal Mahdi, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Columbia. Noel Nickle and Ron Kaz set up outside the fences of the S.
C. Department of Corrections to protest the execution of Mikal Mahdi, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Columbia. Bucky Bruce holds up signage protesting the execution of Mikal Mahdi outside the SC Department of Corrections, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Columbia.
Bill Scicchitano gets on his knees and prays at the fence of the S.C. Department of Corrections before the execution of Mikal Mahdi, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Columbia.
Bucky Bruce holds an umbrella up to shield from the rain outside of the SC Department of Corrections protesting the execution of Mikal Mahdi, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Columbia. Noel Nickel and Ron Kaz sit under an umbrella amidst the weather to protest the execution of Mikal Mahdi at the SC Department of Corrections, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Columbia. Law enforcement officers prepare before the execution of Mikal Mahdi at the SC Department of Corrections, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Columbia.
Protesters begin to set up signs outside the fencing of the SC Department of Corrections ahead of the execution of Mikal Mahdi, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Columbia. Law enforcement officers wait for vehicles entering the grounds of the SC Department of Corrections, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Columbia. Media witnesses Martha Rose Brown and Brian McConchie hold their notebooks before describing what they saw to members of the media at the execution of Mikal Mahdi, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Columbia.
Media witness AP reporter Jeffrey Collins describes the experience and what he saw at the execution of Mikal Mahdi at the SC Department of Corrections, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Columbia. Fox 57 reporter and media witness Brian McConchie speaks to members of the media after the execution of Mikal Mahdi, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Columbia. Media witness Martha Rose Brown of the Orangeburg Times-Democrat speaks to members of the media about what she saw at the execution of Mikal Mahdi, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Columbia.
Bill Scicchitano holds a rosary in his hand while praying for all those involved in the execution of Mikal Mahdi, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Columbia. Protesters cast deep shadows on the grass in front of the SC Department of Corrections fence where Mikal Mahdi’s execution is about to be carried out, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Columbia. Members of the media listen to witnesses of the execution of Mikal Mahdi at the SC Department of Corrections, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Columbia.
AP reporter and media witness Jeffrey Collins takes notes while media witnesses share what they saw at the execution of Mikal Mahdi, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Columbia. Easter decorations hang on the wall above the exit door at the SC Department of Corrections before the execution of Mikal Mahdi, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Columbia. Protesters gather on the grass at the fence outside of the SC Department of Corrections before the execution of Mikal Mahdi, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Columbia.
Bill Scicchitano prays for all those involved in the execution of Mikal Mahdi outside the fence of the SC Department of Corrections, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Columbia. A protester holds up scripture excerpts and a rosary while protesting the execution of Mikal Mahdi at the SC Department of Corrections, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Columbia. Protesters hold a moment of silence for Mikal Mahdi moments before his execution at the SC Department of Corrections, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Columbia.
Protesters hold signs through the fence and clasp bars around the SC Department of Corrections around the time of the execution of Mikal Mahdi, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Columbia. Protesters hold up signs for drivers to see at the execution of Mikal Mahdi at the SC Department of Corrections, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Columbia. A police officer watches protesters through a fence at the SC Department of Corrections around the time of the execution of Mikal Mahdi, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Columbia.
Mahdi had been wanted by homicide detectives in Virginia after a body was found near his home in early July 2004. On July 14, Mahdi fled the state, stealing a neighbor’s gun and a vehicle from another. The next day, he killed 29-year-old Christopher Boggs inside a Winston-Salem, N.
C., gas station. After arriving in Columbia late July 17, Mahdi pretended to be homeless to gain access to a shelter and then carjacked a man in the middle of the night on Bull Street.
He drove south from Columbia to Calhoun County, where a stolen credit card was declined when he stopped for gas. A cashier called police, and Mahdi fled on foot. He found Myers' farm and hid in his workshop.
Myers, returning from a family celebration on Edisto Island, stumbled upon Mahdi at about 7 p.m. July 18.
Mahdi shot him numerous times, poured diesel on his body and fled in Myers' pickup truck. His journey ended in Florida on July 21, 2004, when police officers chased him on the beach and cornered him on the fifth floor of a condominium complex. He was returned to South Carolina, where he was charged with capital murder for Myers' death.
Mahdi pleaded guilty before trial. Later, he would argue his trial team failed to mitigate his death sentence, citing their 30-minute presentation of his traumatic childhood. On appeal, his attorneys told a more complete picture, but courts found it would not have made a difference.
In 2006, Mahdi forged a handcuff key in an attempt to escape custody. In 2009, he and another death-row inmate stabbed a prison guard 14 times, all but killing the man. Mahdi’s aunt, Sophia Gee, told The Post and Courier that Mahdi was remorseful for his crimes in the end.
She said his family has always had sympathy and empathy for all of the people he hurt through the years. “He’s not a monster,” Gee said last week. “He’s been in jail for 20 years.
He’s getting ready to pay with his life and we love him.” Noel Nickle and Ron Kaz set up outside the fences of the S.C.
Department of Corrections to protest the execution of Mikal Mahdi, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Columbia. First Circuit Solicitor David Pascoe, who put Mahdi on death row, called him the “human embodiment of evil." Meredith Barnette, Myers' daughter, in a letter to The Post and Courier said she had forgiven Mahdi and recognized he may have had a troubled upbringing.
But it did not excuse his actions. His death, she said, will allow her family to focus on the positives of her father's life. Mahdi is the fifth prisoner in the U.
S. to be executed by firing squad since 1977, during the modern era of the U.S.
death penalty..
