Former Memphis police officer Desmond Mills Jr. has entered a guilty plea for both federal and state charges in the beating death of Tyre Nichols. Mills, 33, is the first of the five former Memphis police officers charged in connection with Nichols' death to agree to a deal. He pleaded guilty to federal charges of excessive force and obstruction of justice, as well as related state charges. Mills has also agreed to act as a cooperating witness in both federal and state investigations. The plea agreement includes recommendations from prosecutors for a 15-year prison sentence. Mills will serve his time in a federal prison.
The incident occurred on January 7, 2023, during a traffic stop. Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man, was beaten by police officers and died three days later. The violent incident was captured on police bodycam footage and surveillance street cameras, which were released by the city of Memphis. The footage showed disturbing images of Nichols being restrained and repeatedly struck by officers, kicked in the head, pepper sprayed, and hit with a baton.
The officers involved in the incident were members of the SCORPION unit, a group created by the Memphis police to fight street crime. Three weeks after Nichols' death, the unit was disbanded and permanently deactivated by the Memphis police. The five former officers, including Mills, were charged with second-degree murder in state courts and federal civil rights violations.
Mills, who was released on a $250,000 bond while fighting the charges, admitted to repeatedly and unjustifiably striking Nichols with a baton and failing to intervene to stop the other officers from beating him. He also admitted to making false statements and accounts. Nichols' mother, RowVaughn Wells, expressed her support for the plea deal, stating that it is just the beginning of obtaining full justice for her son.
The remaining four defendants are still set to face a federal trial on May 6, 2024. Mills' guilty plea and cooperation will be crucial in the cases against them. The government will recommend a sentence of no more than 15 years in prison for Mills. The plea agreement also includes his full cooperation in the federal civil rights investigation into the Memphis Police Department's patterns and practices.
The guilty plea marks a significant development in the case, as it holds a former police officer accountable for his actions in the beating death of Tyre Nichols. The incident sparked protests and vigils in Memphis and other major US cities, reigniting the debate over police brutality and the treatment of Black individuals by law enforcement. The outcome of the trial for the remaining four defendants will be closely watched as the public seeks justice in this high-profile case.
