COLUMBIA, S.C. — An individual who fatally shot an off-duty police officer in South Carolina is set to be the fifth person executed in the state since the resumption of the death penalty last fall following a 13-year hiatus. Mikal Mahdi’s execution is scheduled for April 11 at 6 p.m. at a prison in Columbia, as announced by the state Supreme Court on Friday.
The court has delayed a potential sixth execution of Steven Bixby, who killed two police officers in a land dispute in Abbeville County in December 2003. Bixby was originally scheduled for execution in May, but the court requires a judge to first determine his mental competence. A psychologist stated that Bixby understands the reasons behind his death sentence but also believes that the blood on his clothes from the night of the killings contains Jesus Christ’s DNA.
Mahdi, aged 41, has the option to choose between lethal injection, electrocution, or a firing squad. Brad Sigmon chose the firing squad on March 7, becoming the first prisoner in the U.S. to be executed by bullets in 15 years. If Mahdi does not make a decision by March 28, he will be sent to the electric chair.
Since September, three other prisoners have been executed by lethal injection: Freddie Owens on Sept. 20, Richard Moore on Nov. 1, and Marion Bowman Jr. on Jan. 31.
A Troubled Past:
Mahdi’s attorney, David Weiss, revealed that Mahdi had a troubled childhood, displaying problematic behavior from a young age. He struggled with mental health issues and criminal activities, which culminated in his involvement in serious crimes, including homicide.
On July 14, 2004, Mahdi stole a gun and a car in Virginia before fatally shooting a store clerk in North Carolina the next day. He then carjacked someone in South Carolina on July 17, 2004. Mahdi sought refuge in a shed belonging to officer James Myers in Orangeburg, South Carolina, on July 18, 2004, where he ambushed and killed Myers upon his return from a family celebration.
Mahdi was apprehended in Florida on July 21, 2004. Despite being in custody, he was found in possession of tools that could facilitate an escape on three separate occasions.
Mahdi’s attorney emphasized his troubled upbringing, suggesting that he was failed by his family and the justice system, lacking the necessary support and care that could have potentially diverted him from a life of crime.
The court records show that among the items found in Mikal Deen Mahdi’s possession were homemade handcuff keys, one of which was discovered under his tongue during his trial. While incarcerated on death row, he physically attacked a guard and another worker by stabbing and hitting them with a concrete block. Additionally, sharpened metal that could function as a knife was found in his cell on three separate occasions.
During his trial, Mahdi’s defense highlighted his background, revealing that he was the second son of a woman who entered into an arranged marriage at the age of 16. His family described his upbringing as tumultuous, although there was no evidence of abuse or mental illness, which are often seen in other death penalty cases. Ultimately, Mahdi chose to plead guilty to murder and be sentenced by Judge Clifton Newman. Despite his personal reservations about the death penalty, Judge Newman stressed that the case transcended his beliefs. He emphasized his dedication to balancing justice with compassion and understanding for every defendant he sentenced, but he found it challenging to identify any sense of humanity in Mikal Deen Mahdi.
