A former Mississippi sheriff's deputy, Hunter Elward, was sentenced to about 20 years in prison by U.S. District Judge Tom Lee for his involvement in the torture of two Black men, Michael Corey Jenkins and Eddie Terrell Parker. The incident occurred in January 2023, after a neighbor complained that the men were staying in a home with a white woman. Elward, along with five other former law enforcement officers, admitted to subjecting the victims to numerous acts of racially motivated torture. The officers, who called themselves "The Goon Squad," burst into the home without a warrant, assaulted Jenkins and Parker with stun guns, a sex toy, and other objects. They even went as far as pouring milk, alcohol, and chocolate syrup over their faces, forcing them to strip naked, shower together, and shocking them with stun guns. Elward admitted to shoving a gun into Jenkins' mouth and firing in a "mock execution" that resulted in injuries. The officers then attempted to cover up their crimes by planting drugs and a gun. Jenkins and Parker, who have suffered physically and emotionally from the attack, called for the "stiffest of sentences" at a news conference, hoping for justice to be served. The officers face a range of federal charges, with Elward facing up to 30 years in prison for discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence. The victims' attorney, Malik Shabazz, emphasized the importance of holding police accountable for their actions, stating that the sentencing hearings could have national implications. The case, which highlights the ongoing issue of police brutality against people of color, has sparked a civil rights lawsuit and calls for the resignation of Rankin County Sheriff Bryan Bailey. The victims, their families, and their attorneys are seeking maximum sentences for all six officers involved in the heinous crimes.