Third Mississippi ‘Goon Squad’ member sentenced for involvement in assault of Black men News
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Third Mississippi ‘Goon Squad’ member sentenced for involvement in assault of Black men

The third of six members of the Mississippi deputy group who referred to themselves as the “Goon Squad,” Daniel Opdyke, was sentenced Wednesday to 17 and a half years in federal prison for his involvement in the torture of two black men.

In January 2023, six members of Mississippi law enforcement entered the home of Michael Jenkins and Eddie Parker without a warrant or exigent circumstances. Despite having no probable cause to believe that either man was involved in criminal acts, the Mississippi officers handcuffed both men in their home. The officers reportedly told the men to “stay out of Rankin County” and repeatedly called them racial slurs. The officers then beat both men and tased them 17 times. They also forced the men to ingest liquids. Eventually, former deputy Hunter Elward put his gun in Jenkin’s mouth and fired the weapon.

The law enforcement agents then exited the home, providing no medical aid or assistance to either victim. Outside the home, the agents destroyed surveillance footage and falsely charged Jenkins with crimes.

Following the crime, Mississippi State Attorney General Lynn Fitch spoke out against the agents in a statement with the Department of Justice.

Without a relationship of trust between law enforcement officers and those they swear to serve and protect, our fight for justice and against crime is doomed to fail.  This brutal attack caused more than physical harm to these two individual victims, it severed that vital trust with the people.  This abuse of power will not be tolerated. The Attorney General’s Office is committed to delivering justice for these victims and all Mississippians, and we are grateful for this strong partnership we have with our US Attorney’s Offices and FBI Field Office. Working together, it is my hope that we can help these victims heal and restore confidence in our criminal justice system.

In total, the six law enforcement agents were charged with 16 felonies, including civil rights conspiracy, deprivation of rights, discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence and obstruction of justice. The agents pled guilty to all charges against them. Attorney for the victims Malik Shabazz said after the sentencing, “Let this be a strict warning to all gangs in police departments all across America. Let this be a strict warning to all rural police officers… that you will not get light sentences.”

Ex-deputy Opdyke was the third of the six officers to be sentenced Wednesday, with two other agents sentenced earlier this week.

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