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Killing of Tyre Nichols

Still image of beating scene from pole mounted CCTV
Date	January 7, 2023 (traffic stop) January 10, 2023 (death)
Location	Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
Type	Police brutality
Deaths	Tyre Nichols
Accused	Tadarrius Bean Demetrius Haley Emmitt Martin III Desmond Mills Jr. Justin Smith
Charges	Second-degree murder Aggravated assault Aggravated kidnapping Official misconduct Official oppression

On January 7, 2023, five Black police officers from the Memphis Police Department severely beat 29-year-old Tyre Nichols, a Black man, during a traffic stop, resulting in his death three days later in the hospital.

The officers stopped Nichols for alleged reckless driving, pulled him from his car, and used pepper spray and a taser on him. Nichols managed to break away. One officer, as other officers pursued Nichols, said "I hope they stomp his ass". When officers caught up with Nichols, they beat him for about three minutes, punching and kicking him in the head and striking him on the back with a baton while he was restrained.

Nichols was hospitalized in critical condition and died three days later. An autopsy commissioned by his family found "extensive bleeding caused by a severe beating".

The five officers were fired on January 20, and on January 26 they were arrested and charged with murder, kidnapping, assault, and misconduct; two firefighters who were on the ambulance that took Nichols to the hospital were relieved of duty pending an investigation. On January 27, the Memphis Police Department released four clips of edited video showing events between 8:24 p.m. and 9:02 p.m.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the United States Department of Justice both opened investigations. Widespread protests began on January 27.

Tyre Nichols

Tyre Deandre Nichols (/ˈtaɪ.ri ˈnɪk.əlz/ TY-ree; June 5, 1993 – January 10, 2023), a 29-year-old Black man with a four-year-old son, was working for FedEx and was a photographer with his own website. Nichols was raised in Sacramento, California, and moved to Memphis, Tennessee, in 2020.

According to his family's attorney, Benjamin Crump, Nichols had a slim build due to Crohn's disease, weighing about 145 pounds (66 kilograms) at a height of 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 meters). The family has also retained attorney Antonio Romanucci.

Police officers

The five Black police officers involved each had three to six years of experience. Some were members of the 30-person specialized hot spot policing unit known as Scorpion (Street Crimes Operation to Restore Peace In Our Neighborhoods), a group of undercover officers assembled in October 2021 as a response team to deal with serious crimes. Scorpion officers drove unmarked cars and dressed in plainclothes, wearing bulletproof vests marked "POLICE".

• Tadarrius Bean, age 24, was hired in August 2020
• Demetrius Haley, age 30, a former corrections officer, was hired in August 2020
• Emmitt Martin III, age 30, was hired in March 2018
• Desmond Mills Jr., age 32, a former jailer in Mississippi and Tennessee, was hired in March 2017
• Justin Smith, age 28, was hired in March 2018

Traffic stop and death

External videos
Footage published by the City of Memphis
Video 1 – police body camera footage, first encounter
Video 2 – pole-mounted camera footage, second encounter
Video 3 – police body camera footage, second encounter
Video 4 – police body camera footage, second encounter

Nichols was two minutes away from his home when he was stopped at approximately 8:24 p.m. on January 7, 2023, near the intersection of East Raines Road and Ross Road. The Memphis Police Department initially stated on January 8 that the traffic stop of Nichols was due to reckless driving. On January 27, Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn "C. J." Davis stated that her department reviewed footage, including from body cameras, to "determine what that probable cause was and we have not been able to substantiate that – ... It doesn't mean that something didn't happen, but there’s no proof."

At the traffic stop, officers pulled Nichols out of his car as he said: "I didn’t do anything." An officer shouted: "Get on the fuckin' ground ... I'm gonna tase your ass." Officers pushed Nichols to the ground. At about 8:25 p.m., a struggle began between the officers and Nichols; they attempted to pin Nichols to the ground, threatened him, yelled expletives, and used pepper spray and a taser on him. The pepper spray also hit several of the other officers. Ultimately, Nichols broke free and ran south on Ross Road, where he was pursued by at least two officers. Two more police units arrived at the scene of the traffic stop around 8:29 p.m. Footage showed that one officer who remained at the area of the traffic stop said, "I hope they stomp his ass".

The second encounter Nichols had with police occurred less than half a mile (800 meters) away from the traffic stop at 8:33 p.m. where he was beaten for about three minutes. Body camera footage showed an officer shouting to Nichols: "I'm going to baton the fuck out of you." Footage from a pole-mounted surveillance camera at the corner of Bear Creek Cove and Castlegate Lane showed officers striking Nichols at least nine times ("without visible provocation", according to a CNN analyst) and an officer using his leg to push Nichols hard to the ground. The officers pulled Nichols up by his shoulders and kicked him twice in the face, pulled him into a sitting position and struck his back with a baton, then brought him to a kneeling position and struck him again. After that, officers pulled Nichols to a standing position and restrained his hands; during this time, Nichols was repeatedly punched in the face by officers, and eventually he fell to a kneeling position. Within the next minute, Nichols was kicked by an officer. The footage shows at least five punches to Nichols's face. During the beating, Nichols repeatedly called for his mother and " not appear to ever strike back", reported The New York Times.

By 8:37 p.m., Nichols was handcuffed and limp; officers propped him against the side of a police car. After Nichols was on the ground, one officer said: "I was hitting him with straight haymakers, dog", while another said: "I jumped in, started rocking him." Medics arrived around 8:41 p.m. but did not begin to assist Nichols until 16 minutes later. An ambulance arrived at 9:02 p.m. and took Nichols to St. Francis Hospital at 9:18 p.m. after he complained of shortness of breath. He died on January 10; an autopsy found "excessive bleeding caused by a severe beating".

In the released videos from after the beating, two officers claim Nichols reached for their weapons. This claim is not substantiated by the videos, with one expert noting that neither did any officer seem to indicate they were threatened, nor did any of the officers communicate the alleged reaching to fellow officers during the stop.

Investigations and criminal charges

On January 7, District Attorney Steve Mulroy asked the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation to investigate allegations of excessive use of force during the arrest. On January 15, the Memphis Police Department announced the officers involved would face administrative action. The U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) also opened an investigation. On January 20, Memphis Police announced that the five officers would be fired.

On January 27, Chief Cerelyn “CJ” Davis told Good Morning America, "In my 36 years, I would have to say I don't think I've ever been more horrified and disgusted, sad" about the video, and it was "still very unclear" as to why the officers stopped Nichols. Before the release of the video, she said probable cause for reckless driving by Nichols had not been substantiated.

By January 24, two Memphis Fire Department emergency medical technicians who were in the ambulance had been relieved of duty without further explanation.

On January 24, the five officers were arrested and charged with second-degree murder, aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping, official misconduct, and official oppression. As of January 27, all five men have posted bail and been released, according to Shelby County Jail records.

Public reaction and protests

On January 27, the police body-worn camera video footage of the incident was released to the public. Chief Davis stated that officials intentionally "decided it would be best to release the video later in the day after schools are dismissed and people are home from work" due to concern over the civil unrest that might result after its release. The day prior, U.S. President Joe Biden spoke with the Nichols family and joined in their call for peaceful protest. Biden also told the family that he would renew a push with Congress to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act to tackle police misconduct.

Chief Davis released a video statement where she said, "This is not just a professional failing. This is a failing of basic humanity toward another individual." On January 27, New York City Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell, denounced what she called "disgraceful actions," while Chicago Police Superintendent, David O. Brown, called the video "horrific."

After Nichol's death, Chief Davis called for a review of the Scorpion unit, and the unit was disbanded on January 28.

On the day of the video's release, FBI Director Christopher Wray said he was appalled by the video, and Patrick Yoes, the national president of the Fraternal Order of Police, stated that "The event as described to us does not constitute legitimate police work or a traffic stop gone wrong. This is a criminal assault under the pretext of law." New York City Mayor Eric Adams, a retired captain from the NYPD, told the press that the White House had briefed him and other mayors on the video ahead of its release and that it would "trigger pain and sadness in many of us. It will make us angry."

Following the release of the video, protesters in Memphis blocked traffic on Interstate 55. By January 28, protests had also occurred in New York City, Chicago, Washington, DC, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Portland, Atlanta, San Francisco, Boston, Baltimore, and Newark.

A moment of silence was held for Nichols before the NBA basketball game in Minneapolis at the Target Center on January 27 between the Memphis Grizzles and Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Legal Aid Society of New York City released a statement that included, "We must continue to question the police's role in society, as these incidents frequently recur, and many more happen all the time without being captured on body-worn cameras." On January 29, Senate Judiciary Chair Dick Durbin said, "We need a national conversation about policing in a responsible, constitutional and humane way. These men and women with badges put them on each day and risk their lives for us. I know that, but we also see from these videos horrible conduct by these same officers in unacceptable situations."

On social media, a #SunsetsForTyre campaign posts images of sunsets in honor of Nichols. A GoFundMe fundraiser was created by family members of Nichols that states "We want to build a memorial skate park for Tyre, in honor of his love for skating and sunsets". By January 29, the GoFundMe raised nearly US$1 million.

See also

• Lists of killings by law enforcement officers in the United States

Notes

1. On January 8, the Memphis Police Department said Nichols had been pulled over for reckless driving, but its chief later said that video recordings showed no evidence of probable cause for Nichols to be stopped (though stressing that cause might nonetheless have existed).

References

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2. Sullivan, Becky (January 27, 2023). "Memphis braces for the release of Tyre Nichols arrest footage". NPR. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
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5. Clifford, Tyler (January 27, 2023). "Five ex-Memphis police officers were charged with murder in death of Tyre Nichols". Reuters. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
6. "'Extensive bleeding caused by a severe beating': Tyre Nichols preliminary autopsy results". CNN. January 25, 2023. Archived from the original on January 27, 2023. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
7. Rosenzweig-Ziff, Dan; Berman, Mark; Nakamura, David; McDaniel, Justine; Klemko, Robert; Cheung, Helier (January 28, 2023). "What Memphis police videos show, and don't show, about Tyre Nichols beating". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
8. ^ Hanna, Jason; Hartfield, Elizabeth. "Video shows Tyre Nichols calling for his mother, beaten by officers now charged in his death". CNN. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
9. "Statement from United States Attorney Kevin G. Ritz". Department of Justice. January 18, 2023. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
10. Strickland, Jim (January 26, 2023). "City of Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland statement regarding Tyre Nichols Thursday, January 26, 2023" (Tweet). Retrieved January 27, 2023 – via Twitter.
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14. Zdanowicz, Christina; Timm-Garcia, Jaide (January 27, 2023). "Tyre Nichols was a son and father who enjoyed skateboarding, photography and sunsets, his family says". CNN. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
15. "About". tnicholsphotography.
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42. Douglas, Stephanie; Bolden, Bria (January 24, 2023). "Two Memphis Fire employees relieved of duty in connection to Tyre Nichols' death, internal investigation ongoing". NBC 5. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
43. Clifford, Tyler (January 26, 2023). "Former Memphis officers arrested on murder charges in the death of Tyre Nichols". Reuters. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
44. Sainz, Adrian; Reynolds, Rebecca (January 26, 2023). "DA: 5 Memphis cops 'all responsible' for Tyre Nichols' death". AP News. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
45. Jaglois, Jessica; Rojas, Rick (January 27, 2023). "Tyre Nichols Live Updates: Memphis to Release 'Appalling' Police Video". The New York Times. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
46. Sainz, Adrian (January 27, 2023). "Memphis authorities release video in Tyre Nichols' death". AP News. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
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49. "Statement from President Joe Biden on the Tyre Nichols Case". January 26, 2023.
50. Clifford, Tyler (January 27, 2023). "Five ex-Memphis police officers charged with murder in death of Tyre Nichols". Reuters.
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52. ^ Berman, Mark (January 28, 2023). "As Memphis reckons with Tyre Nichols's death, police shutter unit involved in case". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
53. Schuppe, Jon; Schapiro, Rich; Ali, Safia Samee (January 26, 2023). "Memphis police's vaunted Scorpion unit under scrutiny after Tyre Nichols' death". NBC News. Retrieved January 28, 2023. This week, Davis announced a review of all of the police department's specialized units, including Scorpion, in response to Nichols' death.
54. Sainz, Adrian (January 28, 2023). "Memphis police disband unit that beat Tyre Nichols". AP NEWS. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
55. Anuta, Joe; Goldenberg, Sally (January 27, 2023). "New York mayor confers with White House ahead of expected Tyre Nichols protests". Politico. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
56. Moon, Melissa (January 28, 2023). "Tyre Nichols protestors shut down old I-55 Bridge". WREG-TV. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
57. Oladipo, Gloria (January 28, 2023). "'We're tired of being beaten': protesters across US call for justice for Tyre Nichols". The Guardian. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
58. Salahieh, Nouran (January 29, 2023). "Protesters across the US decry police brutality after Tyre Nichols' death". CNN. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
59. "Timberwolves top Memphis after moment of silence for Nichols". Minnesota Public Radio. January 28, 2023. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
60. Bekiempis, Victoria (January 29, 2023). "'Systemic crisis': Tyre Nichols beating fuels calls for broad police reforms". The Guardian. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
61. Cohen, David (January 29, 2023). "Time for 'national conversation' on policing, Durbin says". Politico. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
62. Hassan, Jennifer (January 29, 2023). "Tyre Nichols loved sunsets. People are sharing glowing skies in his honor". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 29, 2023.

External links

• Read the Indictments Filed Against 5 Memphis Police Officers (New York Times)

• 2023 deaths
• 2023 in Tennessee
• 2023 controversies in the United States
• January 2023 events in the United States
• Law enforcement controversies in the United States
• Filmed killings by law enforcement
• Filmed deaths in the United States
• Deaths by person in Tennessee
• Deaths by beating in the United States
• Law enforcement in Tennessee
• Killings by law enforcement officers in the United States
• African-American history in Memphis, Tennessee