Six former Mississippi law enforcement officers, who called themselves the "Goon Squad," were sentenced to prison terms ranging from 15 to 45 years for their involvement in a brutal racist attack on two Black men, Michael Corey Jenkins and Eddie Terrell Parker, in January 2023. The men, including former Rankin County Sheriff's deputies Brett Morris McAlpin, Christian Dedmon, Jeffrey Middleton, Hunter Elward, and Daniel Opdyke, as well as former Richland Police Department officer Joshua Hartfield, pleaded guilty to state charges in August.

The attack involved verbal abuse, physical assault, the use of stun guns and a sex toy, and a mock execution where Elward shot Jenkins in the mouth. The men also planned to plant drugs on the victims to cover up their crimes. The victims, Jenkins and Parker, described the night as a horrific ordeal that left them physically and emotionally scarred.

The former officers faced both state and federal charges, with their federal sentences ranging from 10 to 40 years. The state sentences, which will run concurrently with the federal ones, were handed down in a courtroom in Brandon, Mississippi, just miles from where the attack took place. The NAACP has called for the removal of a Confederate monument near the courthouse, citing its ties to a history of racism in the county.

During the federal sentencing hearings, the victims confronted their tormentors, with emotional testimonies highlighting the brutality of the attack. Elward, Middleton, and Opdyke were described as key figures in the group, with Middleton being labeled as the ringleader. Dedmon was singled out for his involvement in the sexual assault of one of the victims.

The former officers expressed remorse during their sentencing hearings, with some acknowledging their roles in the attack and expressing regret for the pain and suffering they caused. The victims, Jenkins and Parker, shared their emotional statements, detailing the lasting impact of the attack on their lives.

Overall, the sentencing of the former officers marked a significant step towards justice for Jenkins and Parker, as well as a condemnation of the racist and abusive actions of those sworn to protect and serve.