Nine prison officers are charged with the murder of an African-American man who succumbed to his injuries after being beaten by guards and held face down on the floor inside a Memphis County jail a year ago, the county sheriff said.

Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner said at a news conference that prosecutors have charged nine corrections officers in the Oct. 2, 2022, death of Gershon Freeman, 33.

Boehner did not elaborate on the charges. However, local media reported that the two were charged with second-degree murder and aggravated assault, and the remaining seven with aggravated assault.

“I want to be clear, it was not the actions of any employee at the Shelby Sheriff’s Office that caused Freeman’s death (…) I stand with those employees,” Boehner said, arguing that the medical examiner concluded the inmate died of a pre-existing heart condition.

The case has been in the spotlight due to the murder of another African-American, Tyre Nichols, on January 7 of this year, by Memphis police officers.

Attorneys for Freeman’s family, led by noted civil rights advocate Ben Crump, say the inmate’s death is another example of the senseless killing of an unarmed African-American at the hands of law enforcement officials.

Nashville-Davidson County District Attorney Glenn Funk has taken over the case after Shelby District Attorney Steve Mulroy recused himself. Sheriff Boehner is running for mayor of Memphis and Mulroy has already expressed his support for his political opponent.

Boehner claims the prosecutions are aimed at hurting him politically. He also objected last March to the release of edited footage from a video, arguing that the footage did not show the “abusive and violent behavior” that led prison officials to restrain Freeman.

In the 14-minute video, officers can be seen punching, kicking and pepper-spraying Freeman. Freeman is also seen, immobilized face down on the floor with one knee pressing into his back for at least 5 minutes.