A mercy shot is a final shot delivered in an execution.
It follows after at least one original shot intended to mortally wound or kill the victim.
[1] It is considered "merciful" in the sense that it ends the physical suffering of the person being executed.
The use of the mercy shot is not universal; due to limited compassion for the victims or due to limited available ammunition, some execution victims are left to die of their wounds or are simply buried alive, without a mercy shot.
This death-related article is a stub.