Memphis PD Indicted for Second-Degree Murder: Awaiting Release of Body Cam Footage
On Thursday, five officers from the Memphis Police Department were indicted on charges of second-degree murder, aggravated assault, kidnapping, official misconduct and official oppression.[0] The officers, identified as Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills Jr. and Justin Smith, were arrested and later released on bond.[1]
The incident started with a traffic stop of 29-year-old Tyre Nichols on Jan. 7.[2] Footage from the traffic stop, released by the city of Memphis on Friday, showed police tasing, pepper-spraying, and brutally beating Nichols until he was left slumped against a police cruiser on the ground.[3] He was taken to a hospital and died three days later on Jan. 10.[4]
The video footage sparked outrage across the country, with President Joe Biden describing it as “yet another painful reminder of the profound fear and trauma, the pain, and the exhaustion that Black and Brown Americans experience every single day.”[4]
Friday night, protesters across the US held marches and rallies asking for justice for Nichols, while in Memphis, protesters shut down the I-55 bridge over the Mississippi River between Memphis and West Memphis.[5] Two Memphis fire department employees who were part of Nichols’ initial care had been relieved of duty, and two Shelby County sheriff’s deputies have been put on leave pending an investigation.[6]
Mayor Jim Strickland said the city is initiating an outside, independent review of the training, policies, and operations of their specialized units.[7]
Mr. Mulroy said the body camera footage will be released by the city after 6 p.m. January 27th, 2023[8] The video is expected to include footage captured by body cameras, as well as cameras mounted on the dashboards of police vehicles and security cameras on utility poles in the vicinity.[9]
With the release of this video, the incident has become yet another example of police brutality and a reminder of how Black and Brown Americans are routinely subjected to violence. As the city of Memphis awaits the footage, it is important to remember that justice can only be done if the victims are given the respect, dignity, and justice they deserve.
0. “Video shows police kicking, pepper spraying, beating Tyre Nichols after traffic stop” Yahoo Sports, 28 Jan. 2023, https://sports.yahoo.com/amphtml/tyre-nichols-videos-released-000700138.html
1. “Tyre Nichols video: When will Memphis police release body cam footage?” WREG NewsChannel 3, 27 Jan. 2023, https://wreg.com/news/local/tyre-nichols/tyre-nichols-video-when-will-memphis-police-release-body-cam-footage/
2. “Memphis will release Tyre Nichols video after 6 p.m. on a Friday. Why?” Commercial Appeal, 26 Jan. 2023, https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/news/local/2023/01/27/tyre-nichols-video-release-time-memphis-police-officers-charged/69848226007/
3. “More protests today after release of video depicting the deadly police beating of Tyre Nichols” CNN, 28 Jan. 2023, https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/28/us/tyre-nichols-protests-saturday/index.html
4. “Photos: Protesters demand justice for Tyre Nichols across U.S. after Memphis police bodycam footage is released” Yahoo News, 28 Jan. 2023, https://news.yahoo.com/tyre-nichols-memphis-police-body-camera-footage-released-protests-photos-155303913.html
5. “Tyre Nichols case: Americans protest after footage is released” NPR, 28 Jan. 2023, https://www.npr.org/2023/01/27/1152255708/memphis-police-killing-tyre-nichols-protests
6. “Tennessee sheriff opens new investigation into two deputies after Tyre Nichols bodycam video release” Fox News, 28 Jan. 2023, https://www.foxnews.com/us/tennessee-sheriff-opens-new-investigation-two-deputies-tyre-nichols-bodycam-video-release
7. “What is the SCORPION unit, the Memphis police task force at the center of Tyre Nichols’ death?” ABC News, 27 Jan. 2023, https://abcnews.go.com/US/scorpion-unit-memphis-police-task-force-center-tyre/story?id=96720313
8. “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
9. “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