A US district judge, on Wednesday (Mar 20) handed two former deputies in the state of Mississippi lengthy prison sentences after they pleaded guilty to torturing two Black men.

<h2>What happened in court?</h2>

Condemning their cruel attack, the US District Judge Tom Lee sentenced 29-year-old former Rankin County sheriff’s deputy Christian Dedmon to 40 years in prison saying that he committed the most “shocking, brutal and cruel acts imaginable,” against the two Black men, Michael Jenkins and Eddie Parker and a White man at a traffic stop weeks prior.&nbsp;

Daniel Opdyke, 28, a former sheriff’s deputy, was also sentenced to 17.5 years in prison. The court heard details of the racially motivated beatings, torture, sexual assaults and even a mock execution.&nbsp;

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Jenkins said that Dedmon, who received the harshest sentence so far, was the “most wicked” than any of those who attacked him, in a statement read by his lawyer since he could not speak after being shot in the mouth during the January 2023 attack.&nbsp;

He also called the 29-year-old the “worst example of a police officer in the United States”.&nbsp;

Some members of Dedmon’s family, present in the courtroom, were seen crying and closing their eyes as the prosecutors recounted his conduct. The 29-year-old former deputy did not look at Jenkins and Parker when he apologised.&nbsp;

The sentencing on Wednesday afternoon focused on Dedmon and his sexual assault on one of the victims. Malik Shabazz, the attorney for Jenkins and Parker called the 29-year-old former deputy “sick” and prosecutors said that he had subjected the duo to the most egregious sexual acts.

Before Dedmon was sentenced, Opdyke profusely cried and said “The weight of my actions and the harm I’ve caused will haunt me every day.”

<h2>‘Goon squad’</h2>

On Tuesday (Mar 19), Lee sentenced two other deputies, 31-year-old Hunter Elward, who shot Jenkins during the mock execution, to 20 years in prison and Jeffrey Middleton, 46, to 17.5 years.&nbsp;

The 53-year-old Brett McAlpin and a former Richland police officer, Joshua Hartfield, 32, will be sentenced on Thursday (Mar 22). All six members pleaded guilty back in August.

Trigger warning: Some readers may find the story disturbing. Discretion is advised.

<h2>January 2023 attack</h2>

The former officers admitted that they broke into the house without a warrant and tortured Jenkins and Parker. On January 24, 2023, McAlpin received a call from a person in Rankin County that two Black men were staying with a white woman at a house in Braxton.

The six officers subjected the duo to unspeakable acts. Jenkins and Parker were handcuffed as officers poured milk, alcohol and chocolate syrup over their faces.&nbsp;

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The officers also forced them to strip naked and shower together; mocked them with racial slurs and shocked them with their stun guns. Dedmon and Opdyke assaulted them with a sex toy.

Elward shot Jenkins in the mouth which lacerated his tongue and broke his jaw, during the ordeal which went on for one and a half hour.&nbsp;

The officers planted drugs and a gun as a cover-up and filed false charges against Jenkins and Parker which stuck around for months.

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

A US district judge, on Wednesday (Mar 20) handed two former deputies in the state of Mississippi lengthy prison sentences after they pleaded guilty to torturing two Black men.

A US district judge, on Wednesday (Mar 20) handed two former deputies in the state of Mississippi lengthy prison sentences after they pleaded guilty to torturing two Black men. What happened in court? Condemning their cruel attack, the US District Judge Tom Lee sentenced 29-year-old former Rankin County sheriff’s deputy Christian Dedmon to 40 years in prison saying that he committed the most “shocking, brutal and cruel acts imaginable,” against the two Black men, Michael Jenkins and Eddie Parker and a White man at a traffic stop weeks prior. Daniel Opdyke, 28, a former sheriff’s deputy, was also sentenced to 17.5 years in prison. The court heard details of the racially motivated beatings, torture, sexual assaults and even a mock execution. Also Read | Alabama law scraps inclusion efforts in schools; to designate bathrooms based on biological sex Jenkins said that Dedmon, who received the harshest sentence so far, was the “most wicked” than any of those who attacked him, in a statement read by his lawyer since he could not speak after being shot in the mouth during the January 2023 attack. He also called the 29-year-old the “worst example of a police officer in the United States”. Some members of Dedmon’s family, present in the courtroom, were seen crying and closing their eyes as the prosecutors recounted his conduct. The 29-year-old former deputy did not look at Jenkins and Parker when he apologised. The sentencing on Wednesday afternoon focused on Dedmon and his sexual assault on one of the victims. Malik Shabazz, the attorney for Jenkins and Parker called the 29-year-old former deputy “sick” and prosecutors said that he had subjected the duo to the most egregious sexual acts. Before Dedmon was sentenced, Opdyke profusely cried and said “The weight of my actions and the harm I’ve caused will haunt me every day.” ‘Goon squad’ On Tuesday (Mar 19), Lee sentenced two other deputies, 31-year-old Hunter Elward, who shot Jenkins during the mock execution, to 20 years in prison and Jeffrey Middleton, 46, to 17.5 years. The 53-year-old Brett McAlpin and a former Richland police officer, Joshua Hartfield, 32, will be sentenced on Thursday (Mar 22). All six members pleaded guilty back in August. Trigger warning: Some readers may find the story disturbing. Discretion is advised. January 2023 attack The former officers admitted that they broke into the house without a warrant and tortured Jenkins and Parker. On January 24, 2023, McAlpin received a call from a person in Rankin County that two Black men were staying with a white woman at a house in Braxton. The six officers subjected the duo to unspeakable acts. Jenkins and Parker were handcuffed as officers poured milk, alcohol and chocolate syrup over their faces. Also Read | US $1.2 trillion spending proposal includes block on funding for UN Gaza agency The officers also forced them to strip naked and shower together; mocked them with racial slurs and shocked them with their stun guns. Dedmon and Opdyke assaulted them with a sex toy. Elward shot Jenkins in the mouth which lacerated his tongue and broke his jaw, during the ordeal which went on for one and a half hour. The officers planted drugs and a gun as a cover-up and filed false charges against Jenkins and Parker which stuck around for months. (With inputs from agencies)

Mississippi: Former deputy receives 40-year prison sentence for torturing two Black men

Six former police officers in Mississippi pleaded guilty to torturing and abusing two Black men and a white man in two separate incidents. In a statement on Thursday (August 3), the US Justice Department said these former police officers were charged with a total of 16 felonies stemming from the torture and physical abuse of the three men, who were residents of Rankin County.

Six former police officers in Mississippi pleaded guilty to torturing and abusing two Black men and a white man in two separate incidents. In a statement on Thursday (August 3), the US Justice Department said these former police officers were charged with a total of 16 felonies stemming from the torture and physical abuse of the three men, who were residents of Rankin County. "Those 16 felonies include civil rights conspiracy, deprivation of rights under colour of law, discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence, conspiracy to obstruct justice and obstruction of justice," the statement said. "...six defendants, five former members of the Rankin County, Mississippi, Sheriff’s Office (RSCO) – Chief Investigator Brett McAlpin, 52, Narcotics Investigator Christian Dedmon, 28, Lieutenant Jeffrey Middleton, 46, Deputy Hunter Elward, 31, Deputy Daniel Opdyke, 27 – and one former member of the Richland, Mississippi, Police Department – Narcotics Investigator Joshua Hartfield, 31 – pleaded guilty to all charges against them," the statement added. The victims The two Black men were identified as MJ and EP and the white man has not been identified yet. The former police officers admitted that on January 24, without a warrant or any exigent circumstances, they kicked in the door and entered a home in Braxton, Rankin County, Mississippi where MJ and EP were residing. "The defendants handcuffed and arrested the men without probable cause to believe they had committed any crime, called them racial slurs, and warned them to stay out of Rankin County. Further, the defendants punched and kicked the men, tased them 17 times, forced them to ingest liquids, and assaulted them with a dildo. During the incident, Dedmon fired his gun twice to intimidate the men," the statement said. After this incident, Elward surreptitiously removed a bullet from the chamber of his gun, forced the gun into MJ’s mouth and pulled the trigger. The unloaded gun clicked but did not fire. The officer racked the slide, intending to dry-fire a second time. When Elward pulled the trigger, the gun discharged. The bullet lacerated MJ’s tongue, broke his jaw, and exited out of his neck. As the MJ was bleeding on the floor, the defendants did not provide medical aid but instead gathered outside the home to devise a false cover story and took steps to corroborate it including charging the man with crimes he did not commit, submitting fraudulent drug evidence to the crime lab and making false statements to investigators. The statement also said that Dedmon, Elward, and Opdyke each also pleaded guilty to a criminal information, leading to charges of three additional federal felony offences, including deprivation of rights under colour of law and discharge of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. These charges arose from an incident on December 4, 2022, in which Dedmon beat and tased a white man and fired a gun near his head to coerce a confession, while Elward and Opdyke failed to intervene. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

US: Six former Mississippi cops plead guilty to torturing two Black men, one white man

A gunman went on a shooting rampage, killing six people, including&nbsp;his stepfather and ex-wife on Friday at multiple locations in northern Mississippi, said the sheriff, as investigators looked for clues to find out the motive behind the attack.&nbsp;Richard Dale Crum, aged 52, was armed with a shotgun and two handguns, when he opened fire at about 11 am, killing a man who was sitting on a pickup truck's driver's seat parked outside a convenience store in Arkabutla, said Tate County Sheriff Brad Lance.

Local law enforcement officials, as cited by CBS-affiliate WREG, stated that the man then reached another home, which was reported as his own residence, where he shot dead two more people. The deputies were investigating the initial crime scene when they received a second call informing them about another shooting that took place a few miles away.

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When the authorities reached home, they found a dead woman who was as identified as Crum's ex-wife by the sheriff and her current husband was found injured.

Crum was caught by the deputies outside his own house, where he was arrested, Lance said. The authorities also discovered two handymen killed by gunfire, one was found in an SUV and the other was lying dead on the road.

The bodies of Crum's stepfather and the sister of his stepfather were also discovered in the neighbouring home. "Everybody has crime, and from time to time we have violent crime, but certainly nothing of this magnitude. Without being able to say what triggered this, that's the scary part,” Lance said.

Crum was jailed on the charge of capital murder without a bond and Lance added that an investigation is underway to bring additional charges. The man has also been slapped with the charge of killing Chris Eugene Boyce, 59, who was sitting in the truck outside the store.

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According to the sheriff, Boyce's brother was also present in the truck, but he fled when the gunman attacked. Lance added that Boyce's brother was chased by Crum into a wooded area, where he escaped unharmed.

An “active shooter” lockdown was imposed on the elementary school in the nearby town of Coldwater when the man was being chased by law enforcement officials.

The mass shooting in Mississippi on Friday comes days after three people were killed in an attack by a gunman on a university campus in Michigan, the northern state of the US.

(With inputs from agencies)

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A gunman went on a shooting rampage, killing six people, including his stepfather and ex-wife on Friday at multiple locations in northern Mississippi, said the sheriff, as investigators looked for clues to find out the motive behind the attack.

A gunman went on a shooting rampage, killing six people, including his stepfather and ex-wife on Friday at multiple locations in northern Mississippi, said the sheriff, as investigators looked for clues to find out the motive behind the attack. Richard Dale Crum, aged 52, was armed with a shotgun and two handguns, when he opened fire at about 11 am, killing a man who was sitting on a pickup truck's driver's seat parked outside a convenience store in Arkabutla, said Tate County Sheriff Brad Lance. Local law enforcement officials, as cited by CBS-affiliate WREG, stated that the man then reached another home, which was reported as his own residence, where he shot dead two more people. The deputies were investigating the initial crime scene when they received a second call informing them about another shooting that took place a few miles away. ALSO READ | Three dead in shooting at Michigan State University, suspect found dead When the authorities reached home, they found a dead woman who was as identified as Crum's ex-wife by the sheriff and her current husband was found injured. Crum was caught by the deputies outside his own house, where he was arrested, Lance said. The authorities also discovered two handymen killed by gunfire, one was found in an SUV and the other was lying dead on the road. The bodies of Crum's stepfather and the sister of his stepfather were also discovered in the neighbouring home. "Everybody has crime, and from time to time we have violent crime, but certainly nothing of this magnitude. Without being able to say what triggered this, that's the scary part,” Lance said. Crum was jailed on the charge of capital murder without a bond and Lance added that an investigation is underway to bring additional charges. The man has also been slapped with the charge of killing Chris Eugene Boyce, 59, who was sitting in the truck outside the store. WATCH | WION Speed News: Buffalo mass shooter sentenced to life; 1 killed, 3 wounded in Texas mall shooting According to the sheriff, Boyce's brother was also present in the truck, but he fled when the gunman attacked. Lance added that Boyce's brother was chased by Crum into a wooded area, where he escaped unharmed. An “active shooter” lockdown was imposed on the elementary school in the nearby town of Coldwater when the man was being chased by law enforcement officials. The mass shooting in Mississippi on Friday comes days after three people were killed in an attack by a gunman on a university campus in Michigan, the northern state of the US. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Mississippi mass shooting: Gunman kills 6, including ex-wife, stepfather

A Jackson, Mississippi, woman was shot and killed by police early Saturday after she fled a traffic stop and tried to hit two officers with her car, police said.

The woman, identified by police as Crystaline Barnes, 21, was shot around 7:30 am&nbsp;Saturday after she reportedly forced another motorist off the road, local media including CBS affiliate WJTV reported. When police stopped her, she tried to flee in her car, reversed direction, and then drove at the officers, according to the WJTV report.

Jackson Police said in an official statement that the &quot;Incident has resulted in the driver being shot after attempting to strike officers.&quot;

No other information was immediately available about the shooting.

Jackson Police said in an official statement that the "Incident has resulted in the driver being shot after attempting to strike officers."

A Jackson, Mississippi, woman was shot and killed by police early Saturday after she fled a traffic stop and tried to hit two officers with her car, police said. The woman, identified by police as Crystaline Barnes, 21, was shot around 7:30 am Saturday after she reportedly forced another motorist off the road, local media including CBS affiliate WJTV reported. When police stopped her, she tried to flee in her car, reversed direction, and then drove at the officers, according to the WJTV report. Jackson Police said in an official statement that the "Incident has resulted in the driver being shot after attempting to strike officers." No other information was immediately available about the shooting.

Motorist shot dead after trying to run over Mississippi police officers