In the quiet countryside of Calhoun County, a dedicated public servant's life was brought to a brutal and untimely end on July 18, 2004. Captain James Edward Myers, a 56-year-old veteran of the Orangeburg Department of Public Safety, was ambushed and killed on his own property. Myers, who had served his community for over 30 years, starting as a firefighter in 1974 and rising to the rank of police captain, was known for his quiet leadership and dedication.
The man responsible for this
violent act was Mikal Mahdi, then 21 years old, who was in the midst of a multi-state crime spree. After a failed attempt to use a stolen credit card at a nearby gas station, Mahdi made his way to Captain Myers' farm. There, he broke into a shed, where he watched television and armed himself with several of Myers' guns. He then lay in wait for the unsuspecting officer to return. When Captain Myers arrived, Mahdi shot him nine times. In a horrific attempt to conceal the crime, he then tried to burn Myers' body using diesel fuel before stealing his service vehicle and fleeing the scene.
The investigation led to the apprehension of Mikal Mahdi. In a letter, he later admitted his guilt, stating, 'I'm guilty as hell... What I've done is irredeemable.' On November 30, 2006, Mahdi pleaded guilty to the murder of Captain Myers. A little over a week later, on December 8, 2006, he was sentenced to death for his crimes.
For years, the legal process continued. Ultimately, in April 2025, Mikal Mahdi, then 42, was scheduled for execution by firing squad, a method he chose. His execution marked the second time this method was used in South Carolina in the modern era. Captain Myers was survived by his wife, daughter, granddaughter, sister, and father, leaving behind a legacy of 'service above self' to the Orangeburg community.
