In a significant development in the case of Tyre Nichols’ beating death, former Memphis police officer Desmond Mills Jr. has agreed to change his plea from not guilty to guilty. Mills Jr. will be pleading guilty to federal charges of excessive force and obstruction of justice, as well as related state charges. The plea deal includes a recommended sentence of 15 years, but the final decision will be made by U.S. District Judge Mark Norris at a later hearing.
The Shelby County District Attorney’s Office has emphasized that the plea deal is contingent on Mills Jr.’s full cooperation in both the state and federal criminal cases, as well as the federal civil case. This cooperation will be crucial for the successful prosecution of all those involved in the incident.
Tyre Nichols, a Black man, was fatally beaten by Mills Jr. and four other former Memphis police officers after a traffic stop in January 2023. The officers were caught on video kicking, punching, and striking Nichols with a baton. Nichols died three days later at a hospital due to blunt force trauma, as confirmed by his autopsy report.
All five former officers, including Mills Jr., had previously pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree murder and other offenses in state court. They were part of the now-deactivated SCORPION (Street Crimes Operation to Restore Peace in Our Neighborhoods) unit of the Memphis Police Department.
The case has drawn attention to allegations of systemic racism and excessive use of force by law enforcement. Black activists argue that the bodycam footage of Nichols’ encounter with the officers highlights the presence of systemic racism.
This breaking news story will be updated as more information becomes available.
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