Rankin County torture incident

Rankin County torture incident
LocationBraxton, Mississippi, U.S.
DateJanuary 24, 2023; 20 months ago (2023-01-24)
Attack type
Police brutality, torture, shooting, home invasion, sexual assault, hate crime
VictimsMichael Jenkins and Eddie Parker
Perpetrators
  • Brett McAlpin
  • Christian Dedmon
  • Jeffrey Middleton
  • Hunter Elward
  • Daniel Opdyke
  • Joshua Hartfield
MotiveControl, sadism, racism
VerdictPleaded guilty
ConvictionsFederal: State:
All:
Obstruction of justice, conspiracy to hinder prosecution
Elward:
Aggravated assault
Dedmon, Elward:
Home invasion
SentenceDedmon:
40 years in prison
McAlpin:
27+1⁄2 years in prison
Elward:
20 years in prison
Middleton:
17+1⁄2 years in prison
Opdyke:
17 years in prison
Hartfield:
10 years in prison

On January 24, 2023, six white law enforcement officers, five from the Rankin County Sheriff's Office and one from the Richland Police Department, tortured two black men, Michael Jenkins and Eddie Parker, at a home in Braxton, Mississippi. Police were called to the home by a white neighbor who reported that Jenkins and Parker had entered the home with a white woman.[1] The six officers, who referred to themselves as the "Goon Squad", entered the house without a warrant, then proceeded to torture Jenkins and Parker over the course of the next hour and a half. The torture included Jenkins being shot in the mouth by Hunter Elward, shattering his jaw, Parker being sexually assaulted by Daniel Opdyke, and threats of rape.[2] The six officers were charged in both state and federal court and pleaded guilty to all charges against them.[3]

  1. ^ Goldberg, Michael (August 4, 2023). "How 6 Mississippi officers tried to cover up their torture of 2 Black men". Associated Press. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
  2. ^ Andone, Dakin (August 14, 2023). "6 ex-officers, some of whom called themselves 'The Goon Squad,' plead guilty to state charges in torture of 2 Black men". CNN. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
  3. ^ "Ex-Mississippi law enforcement officers known as "Goon Squad" plead guilty to state charges in racist assault". CBS News. Associated Press. August 14, 2023. Retrieved November 3, 2023.