US EditionLawyers for man executed by firing squad in South Carolina say bullets mostly missed his heart
- The condemned inmate in South Carolina suffered extreme pain for up to a minute after the bullets struck lower than expected, according to pathologists.
- Witnesses reported hearing the inmate cry out and groan during the execution, with his last moan before his final breath at 75 seconds, indicating suffering.
- David Weiss, an attorney for the condemned individual, expressed concern over the placement of the target on the torso, suggesting it was positioned too low.
- The attorneys criticized the autopsy process, noting that only two gunshot wounds were found in the inmate's chest, which raised doubts about the handling of the execution.
64 Articles
64 Articles
OOPS. South Carolina Cop Killer's Execution Via Firing Squad Kinda Got Botched And He Suffered Because Of It
A South Carolina firing squad failed to strike the heart of convicted cop killer Mikal Mahdi, leaving him conscious for up to 80 seconds in what experts are calling a botched execution. Mikal Mahdi was shot on April 11 by a three-man squad, but autopsy results revealed only two bullet wounds—neither to the heart. Pathologists say he bled out in “excruciating” pain. The state had claimed such deaths would take no more than 15 seconds. Now law…
'Botched' South Carolina firing squad execution leaves man in 'conscious pain': The shot 'largely missed his heart'
On April 11, 2025, South Carolina conducted its second firing squad execution in over a month, putting to death 42-year-old Mikal Mahdi. However, Mahdi’s autopsy report has labeled the procedure “botched” after bullets missed his heart, causing him to endure excruciating pain before dying. Mahdi, convicted for a violent 2004 crime spree that included the murder of off-duty police officer James Myers, was strapped to a chair with a target over hi…
Firing Squad ‘Botches’ Execution Of Death Row Inmate, Suffered Excruciating Pain Longer Than Intended
A South Carolina firing squad ‘botched’ the execution of a man convicted of killing a police officer in 2004. Mikal Mahdi, 42, was executed by a three-person firing squad last month. According to NPR, an autopsy revealed two wounds on his chest instead of three, and none of the bullets hit his heart directly. “Instead, the wounds caused damage to his liver and other internal organs, and allowed his heart to keep beating. Pathologists say the inj…
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