Key takeaways:
- Desmond Mills Jr. pled guilty to federal and state charges for the beating death of Tyre Nichols.
- Mills agreed to plead guilty to federal charges of excessive force and obstruction of justice, as well as related state charges.
- Mills is the first of five former Memphis police officers charged in connection with Nichols’ death to agree to a deal, and his plea agreement is still subject to approval by the court.
Former Memphis police officer Desmond Mills Jr. pled guilty to both federal and state charges on Thursday for the beating death of Tyre Nichols. The plea was entered during a hearing at the Memphis federal courthouse as part of a larger agreement to settle charges in state court.
Mills, 33, agreed to plead guilty to federal charges of excessive force and obstruction of justice in the federal case in addition to the related state charges. He also agreed to act as a cooperating witness in both federal and state investigations.
The Shelby County District Attorney’s Office released a statement Thursday regarding Mills’ plea. “His cooperation will help us bring to justice all those criminally responsible while also identifying needs for systemic reform within the police department,” said Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy.
Mills is the first of five former Memphis police officers charged in connection with Nichols’ death to agree to a deal. The other four officers have yet to enter pleas. Their attorneys declined to comment on Mills’ guilty plea.
The plea agreement is still subject to approval by the court. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for April 15.
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