Five Memphis Police Officers Indicted for Death of Tyre Nichols
On January 27, 2023, five former Memphis Police officers were indicted by a grand jury and taken into custody.[0] The five officers, who are all Black, are Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Justin Smith, Emmitt Martin III, and Desmond Mills Jr.[1] They were fired on January 20 after an internal investigation found them to be “directly responsible” for the beating that led to the death of 29-year-old Tyre Nichols.[2] Each officer is charged with second-degree murder, aggravated assault, two charges of aggravated kidnapping, two charges of official misconduct, and one charge of official oppression.[3]
The City of Memphis is anticipated to make available footage from the traffic stop at 6 p.m. (CT) Friday.[4] David Rausch, the director of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, said during a news conference that the incident does “not at all reflect proper policing. This was wrong. This was criminal.”[4]
According to police, officers pulled Nichols over around 8:30 p.m. on Jan. 7 for a traffic violation.[5] Following two clashes, as described by the police, Nichols was taken into custody and stated that he was having difficulty breathing.[6] The family of Tyre Nichols, friends, mourners and skateboarders gathered in the Tobey Skatepark for a vigil on Jan. 26, 2023.[7]
Cerelyn “C.J.” is the Chief of[6] Davis revealed that an unspecified amount of other officers are being investigated for breaking department regulations.[8] She also said that an independent investigation will take place to look into MPD's specialized units.[6] The FBI is also conducting an investigation into potential civil rights violations.[8]
The incident video footage will be available after 6 p.m.[9] Friday CT.[9] Family members have already seen the video and attorneys described it as “heinous” and likened it to the Los Angeles Police beating of Rodney King in 1991.[10]
Attorney Benjamin Crump, who represents the family of Nichols, stated that based on their own autopsy, there is evidence of “extensive bleeding due to a severe beating.”[10] Chief Cerelyn J. Davis of the Memphis Police Department described the video as “heinous, reckless, and inhumane.”[1]
The death of Tyre Nichols has led to the firing, arrests and indictments of five Memphis Police Officers, and an investigation into other potential policy violations.[9]
0. “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
1. “Tyre Nichols bodycam release triggers pleas for peace” NewsNation Now, 27 Jan. 2023, https://www.newsnationnow.com/crime/tyre-nicholos-bodycam-calls-for-peace/
2. “Tyre Nichols was killed due to a traffic stop. Too many Black Americans are.” Vox.com, 27 Jan. 2023, https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/23574206/tyre-nichols-traffic-stop-deaths-footage
3. “Why the DOJ's early response to Tyre Nichols' murder matters” MSNBC, 27 Jan. 2023, https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/wait-tyre-nichols-body-cam-video-dojs-promises-matter-rcna67715
4. “LIVE NOW: Protest Planned in Dallas Amid Release of Tyre Nichols Assault Video” NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth, 27 Jan. 2023, https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/live-video-next-generation-plans-protest-in-dallas-amid-release-of-tyre-nichols-assault-video/3180430/
5. “Tyre Nichols video worse than Rodney King footage, Memphis police chief says” The Guardian US, 27 Jan. 2023, https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/jan/27/tyre-nichols-death-memphis-video-police-rodney-king
6. “Tyre Nichols video to be released after 6 p.m. Friday” Commercial Appeal, 26 Jan. 2023, https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/news/local/2023/01/26/tyre-nichols-video-to-be-released-after-6-p-m-friday/69844967007/
7. “At a somber vigil for Tyre Nichols, anger is directed toward change” The Daily Memphian, 27 Jan. 2023, https://dailymemphian.com/article/33768
8. “Tyre Nichols: President Biden, Steve Cohen on officers' indictments” Commercial Appeal, 26 Jan. 2023, https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/news/local/2023/01/26/reaction-to-the-indictments-of-mpd-officers-involved-in-tyre-nichols-traffic-stop/69844747007/
9. “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
10. “Memphis braces for Tyre Nichols video, which is expected to be released Friday evening” The Hill, 26 Jan. 2023, https://thehill.com/homenews/3831775-memphis-braces-for-release-of-video-footage-in-tyre-nichols-beating/