5 Former Memphis Police Officers Charged With Murder After Death of Tyre Nichols
On Thursday, five former Memphis Police officers were charged with second-degree murder and other offenses related to the death of Tyre Nichols.[0] Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man, was stopped by police on the evening of Jan. 7 and died three days later.[1] Video footage of the incident is expected to be released publicly by the City of Memphis after 6 p.m. Friday, according to Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy.[2]
Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills Jr. and Justin Smith have each been charged with second degree murder, aggravated assault, two charges of aggravated kidnapping, two charges of official misconduct and one charge of official oppression, according to both Shelby County criminal court and Shelby County jail records.[3]
Nichols’ family members and their attorneys were shown footage of his arrest Monday.[4] The attorneys reported that Nichols had been subjected to the use of a taser, pepper spray, physical restraint, and kicks.[5] Romanucci stated that the young boy was defenseless and was treated like a human piñata by the police officers for three minutes, during which he was subjected to an unmitigated, overt, and constant beating.[6] Crump, a civil-rights lawyer, likened the recording of Rodney King being viciously beaten by LAPD officers in 1991 to the video.[5]
Preliminary results of an autopsy commissioned by family attorneys indicated that Nichols “suffered extensive bleeding caused by a severe beating,” and photos released by the family showed his battered and swollen face as he lay in a hospital bed.[6]
A civil rights probe has been launched by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Justice concerning the passing of Mr Nichols.[7] Cerelyn “C.J.” is the Police[8] Davis declared that an exhaustive and impartial review of all of the force's specialized divisions was being carried out, with additional officers under inquiry in the wake of the passing of 29-year-old Tyre Nichols.[2]
On Monday, Romanucci said video of the traffic stop on Jan. 7 showed that Nichols was subjected to “unadulterated, unabashed, nonstop beating” for three minutes by police officers.[2]
0. “Memphis braces for release of video footage in Tyre Nichols beating” The Hill, 26 Jan. 2023, https://thehill.com/homenews/3831775-memphis-braces-for-release-of-video-footage-in-tyre-nichols-beating/
1. “Capitol Police boost security preparations ahead of Tyre Nichols footage release” POLITICO, 27 Jan. 2023, https://www.politico.com/news/2023/01/26/capitol-police-boost-security-preparations-ahead-of-tyre-nichols-footage-release-00079816
2. “What we know about Tyre Nichols' death after Memphis police traffic stop” Axios, 26 Jan. 2023, https://www.axios.com/2023/01/25/tyre-nichols-memphis-police-death
3. “Tyre Nichols' investigation | Attorneys for two of the indicted former Memphis police officers hold news conference” WATN – Local 24, 26 Jan. 2023, https://www.localmemphis.com/article/news/local/tyre-nichols-death-investigation-officer-involved-criminal-defense-attorney-charges-police-brutality-memphis/522-7636d952-71ce-4f36-87b7-e54c517200ca
4. “What We Know: The Murder of Tyre Nichols by Memphis Police” New York Magazine, 26 Jan. 2023, https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2023/01/what-we-know-the-murder-of-tyre-nichols-by-memphis-police.html
5. “What we know — and still don't know — about what led to Tyre Nichols' death” CNN, 27 Jan. 2023, https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/26/us/what-we-know-tyre-nichols-death/index.html
6. “Tyre Nichols’ arrest video set for public release on Friday, according to Tennessee Sheriff’s Association” News Channel 5 Nashville, 24 Jan. 2023, https://www.newschannel5.com/news/tyre-nichols-arrest-video-set-for-public-release-on-friday-according-to-tennessee-sheriffs-association
7. “Autopsy indicates Tyre Nichols was beaten by police – lawyers” BBC, 25 Jan. 2023, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-64404827
8. “Tyre Nichols death: Memphis police officers indicted, booked” Commercial Appeal, 26 Jan. 2023, https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/news/2023/01/26/one-indicted-all-five-mpd-officers-booked-in-tyre-nichols-death/69844181007/