Desmond Mills Jr., a former Memphis cop, has owned up to federal and state charges tied to the fatal beating of Tyre Nichols.
At 33, Mills is the first of five ex-Memphis police officers charged in connection with Nichols' death to strike a deal. He pleaded guilty to federal charges of using excessive force and obstructing justice in the federal case, along with the related state charges.
Mills also agreed to cooperate as a witness in both federal and state investigations, as stated by the Shelby County District Attorney's Office. District Attorney Steve Mulroy commented, "His cooperation will help us bring those responsible for the crimes to justice and shed light on the need for reforms within the police department."
Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man, tragically lost his life three days after a brutal encounter during a traffic stop on January 7, 2023. Memphis authorities released bodycam footage and surveillance camera recordings on January 28, revealing the disturbing incident.
The footage captured horrifying scenes of Nichols being restrained and assaulted by police officers at an intersection in the suburbs. He endured blows to the head while under restraint, pepper spray, punches, and repeated baton strikes.
Five former Memphis police officers – Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Desmond Mills Jr., Emmitt Martin III, and Justin Smith – faced charges in connection to his death. These officers were part of the notorious SCORPION unit, a division created by Memphis police to combat street crime. Notably, the unit was disbanded and "permanently deactivated" by Memphis police three weeks after Nichols' tragic demise.
All five officers had pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder charges in state courts and federal civil rights violations stemming from the case. Mills, who had been out on $250,000 bond while fighting the charges, admitted as part of his plea agreement to "repeatedly and unjustifiably striking Nichols with a baton" and failing to stop other officers from participating in the assault. He also confessed to making false statements, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
The remaining four defendants are still scheduled for a federal trial on May 6, 2024, as mentioned in the official statement. The government will recommend a sentence of no more than 15 years in prison, and Mills will serve this time in a federal facility.
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