Desmond Mills Jr., a former Memphis police officer, expressed regret for not intervening in the fatal beating of Tyre Nichols, which occurred after Nichols fled a traffic stop in January 2023. Mills testified during the trial of officers Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, and Justin Smith, who face state charges including second-degree murder for their roles in Nichols' death. The incident, captured on video, showed officers laughing and failing to aid Nichols as he cried out for his mother, leading to nationwide protests and calls for police reform. Mills admitted to using a baton on Nichols out of anger and acknowledged failing to inform paramedics or police supervisors about the extent of the beating. The trial is taking place outside Shelby County due to concerns about impartiality, and the involved officers were part of a disbanded crime suppression team known for using excessive force and discriminating against Black people.

Former officer Desmond Mills Jr. testified that he regrets not stopping the beating of Tyre Nichols, who died three days after being severely beaten by police officers following a traffic stop in Memphis in 2023.

The trial involves officers Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, and Justin Smith, who face charges including second-degree murder, while Mills and another officer, Emmitt Martin, have agreements to plead guilty and testify.

Footage of the incident showed officers laughing and failing to assist Nichols, who cried out for his mother, prompting national outrage and intensified calls for police reform in the U.S.

Mills admitted to hitting Nichols with a baton out of anger after accidentally pepper-spraying himself and failing to report the extent of Nichols' injuries to paramedics or supervisors.

The trial was moved to Hamilton County to ensure a fair jury due to extensive media coverage, with defense attorneys arguing that Nichols resisted arrest and officers attempted to do their job effectively.

The officers involved were part of the now-disbanded Scorpion Unit, known for targeting crime aggressively but criticized for excessive force and racial discrimination.

A U.S. Justice Department investigation found that the Memphis Police Department has a pattern of using excessive force and discriminating against Black individuals, further highlighting systemic issues within the force.