South Carolina inmate chooses to die by firing squad like the last condemned inmate before him

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- Mikal Mahdi, a death row inmate in South Carolina, has requested execution by firing squad, marking just five weeks since the state conducted its first such execution. Mahdi's execution is scheduled for April 11, following the lethal injection of Brad Sigmon on March 7.

Mahdi, 41, was convicted for the 2004 murder of Orangeburg public safety officer James Myers, using a gun stolen from the officer's shed. Prosecutors described how Mahdi ambushed Myers as he returned home from a family birthday celebration.

In South Carolina, death row inmates have the option of execution by firing squad, lethal injection, or the electric chair. Mahdi's choice to die by firing squad makes him the second inmate to do so since the state resumed this method after a long hiatus. Sigmon's execution took less than three minutes, highlighting the swift nature of this method.

During the execution, Mahdi will be secured in a chair positioned 15 feet away from three prison employees who volunteered to form the firing squad. A target will be affixed to his chest, and the rifles will be loaded with live rounds intended to ensure immediate death upon impact.

Historically, executing inmates by firing squad is rare, with only a few instances in the past 50 years, including Sigmon's case. With Mahdi's choice, South Carolina continues to navigate the contentious landscape of capital punishment.