| Rankin County torture incident | |
|---|---|
| Location | Braxton, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Date | January 24, 2023 |
Attack type | Police brutality, torture, shooting, home invasion, sexual assault, hate crime |
| Victims | Michael Jenkins and Eddie Parker |
| Perpetrators |
|
| Motive | Control, sadism, racism |
| Verdict | Pleaded guilty |
| Convictions | Federal:
All: Obstruction of justice, conspiracy to hinder prosecution Elward: Aggravated assault Dedmon, Elward: Home invasion |
| Sentence | Dedmon: 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]