POLICE CRIMES: Five former Memphis police officers have been charged with second-degree murder after Tyre Nichols died following a traffic stop
AGN.News Team
January 26, 2023
MEMPHIS (AGN.News) – On January 7, 2023, Tyre Nichols, a FedEx employee, was stopped by Memphis police for an apparent traffic violation.
He was beaten to near death by five police officers. Not one rendered medical assistance. He was transported to a local hospital where he died three days later.
Police Chief: Please to be calm!
Memphis Police Director Cerelyn “CJ” Davis urged people to stay calm once the video footage is made public. She said there will be “absolute accountability for those responsible for Tyre’s death.”
“This is not just a professional failing. This is a failing of basic humanity toward another individual,” Memphis Police Director Cerelyn “CJ” Davis said in a video statement that was released late Wednesday on social media.
The family and their attorneys viewed the body-cam video and described it as “inhumane” as it showed the violent death of Tyre Nichols. The police chief said those five officers were directly “responsible for the physical abuse of Mr. Nichols.”
She said, “This incident was heinous, reckless, and inhumane.” Then she added, “When the video is released in the coming days, you will see this for yourselves.”
Community reacts to Nichols’ death
The Memphis community have been protesting this killing for weeks. Those who knew Mr Nichols, are shocked by the brutality heaped upon him, not by criminals in the street, but by members of ‘law enforcement.’
Veteran public safety officials said they’re shocked and sickened by what they saw in the video. Admitting, “What happened here does not at all reflect proper policing.”
Who are the officers?
The five Black officers, all of whom joined the Memphis Police Department in the last six years, were fired last week after an investigation found them to be “directly responsible for the physical abuse of Mr Nichols”.
They are: Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Desmond Mills, Jr, Emmitt Martin III and Justin Smith. They were all arrested and charged with second-degree murder. They are all in custody, jail records show.
These officers were part of a special crimes division called SCORPION (street Crimes Operation to Restore Peace in Our Neighborhoods) unit. They were assembled to fight violent crime in the city’s hot spots.
“Tyre was beaten to death!”
On Wednesday, lawyers for Mr Nichols’ family said an autopsy indicated he had been beaten. “Preliminary findings indicate Tyre suffered extensive bleeding caused by a severe beating,” lawyers Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci said.
Family and friends said, “Tyre was beaten to death!” Based on what the chief said, it is abundantly clear that they are correct. “Tyre was beaten by a gang of killers!” – they said.
Who is Tyre Nichols?”
Tyre was a father and a serious and dedicated worker who supported his son. He loved skateboarding.
Tyre was a hard-working employee at a FedEx facility. He, along with his dad worked for the company. He worked on the second-shift and would come home for lunch half way through the 8 hour shift.
What happened to Tyre Nichols?
Tyre Nichols (29) was an African American man who died on January 10, 2023, three days after a traffic stop by officers from the Memphis Police Department.
Nichols was pulled over on January 7, 2023 for reckless driving. He was reportedly on his way home and about 80 yards from his home at the time of the stop.
According to police, there was a confrontation as officers approached Nichols, and after he ran there was another confrontation in which the officers beat him mercilessly for three minutes.
As the beating continued, Nichols ask them, “What did I do?” Nichols then complained of shortness of breath. He was later transported to a medical facility and was hospitalized.
He died three days later on January 10. Relatives of Nichols claimed the officers involved were in an unmarked vehicle and that he experienced cardiac arrest and kidney failure because of officers beating him.
The family Tyre Nichols speaks
“My son was a beautiful soul,” said Mr Nichols’ mother, Rowvaughn Wells. “Nobody is perfect, but he was damn near.” She called her son’s death a “murder”.
He began to run towards his home just a few yards away. His family said he ran because he felt his life was in danger. He told the police officers, “I just wanted to go home.”
Tyre’s father stated that “Our son ran because he was scared for his life,” and also “He did not run because he was trying to get rid of no drugs, no guns, no any of that. He ran because he was scared for his life. And when you see the video, you will see why he was scared for his life.”
Three days later, two Memphis Fire EMTs who were in the ambulance were relieved of duty. The family supported this action.
Concerning the charges of second-degree murder against the former officers, the family, who pushed for first-degree murder, said they’re “fine with it.”
What was the lawyers’ reaction?
Civil rights lawyer Ben Crump called the video “appalling, heinous, violent and troublesome.”
“We’re seeing evidence of what happens to Black and brown people from simple traffic stops,” Mr Crump said. “You should not be killed from a simple traffic stop.”
“Regrettably, it reminded us of (the) Rodney King video,” added Mr Crump.
“He was a human piñata,” lawyer Antonio Romanucci said of its contents. “It was an unadulterated, unabashed, non-stop beating of this young man for three minutes.”
Mr Nichols was stopped by police on his way home after taking photos of a sunset at a local park, an attorney for the family said.
The lawyer said after reviewing the footage that it shows Mr Nichols being pepper-sprayed, tasered, restrained and kicked.
President Biden reacts to Nichols’ death
The White House issues a statement on Mr Nichols’ death this afternoon.
“Jill and I extend our heartfelt condolences to the family of Tyre Nichols and the entire Memphis community. Tyre’s family deserves a swift, full, and transparent investigation into his death. As Americans grieve, the Department of Justice conducts its investigation, and state authorities continue their work, I join Tyre’s family in calling for peaceful protest. Outrage is understandable, but violence is never acceptable. Violence is destructive and against the law. It has no place in peaceful protests seeking justice…
Public trust is the foundation of public safety and there are still too many places in America today where the bonds of trust are frayed or broken. Tyre’s death is a painful reminder that we must do more to ensure that our criminal justice system lives up to the promise of fair and impartial justice, equal treatment, and dignity for all. We also cannot ignore the fact that fatal encounters with law enforcement have disparately impacted Black and Brown people. To deliver real change, we must have accountability when law enforcement officers violate their oaths, and we need to build lasting trust between law enforcement, the vast majority of whom wear the badge honorably, and the communities they are sworn to serve and protect….
That is why I called on Congress to send the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act to my desk. When they didn’t, I signed an executive order that included stricter use of force standards and accountability provisions for federal law enforcement, as well as measures to strengthen accountability at the state and local level. Today, we all must re-commit ourselves to the critical work that must be done to advance meaningful reforms.”
Investigations into Nichols’ death ongoing
The Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) are also conducting an investigation to determine if Mr Nichols constitutional rights were violated and more.
On January 24, the five officers involved were arrested and charged with second-degree murder and other offenses including official misconduct, aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping and official oppression.
Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy told a news conference that although the officers played different roles in the killing, he said, “they are all responsible.”
These five former officers have been described as a “violent street gang” rather than police officers who are sworn to ‘protect and serve’ the community.
On Thursday, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) said bonds set for Haley and Martin were at $350,000 while Bean, Mills, and Smith were at $250,000 each.
According to court records, two of the five former officers — Mills and Smith — bonded out.
Also on Thursday, David Rausch, director of the TBI, said what happened in Nichols’ arrest was “criminal” and “not at all proper policing.”
Will Body camera video be released?
Video of the beating death of Tyre Nichols will be released on Friday, January 27, 2023 after 6:00 pm Central Time, according to Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy.
Funeral services for Tyre Nichols
Rev. Al Sharpton will deliver the eulogy for Tyre Nichols’ funeral on Feb. 1 in Memphis. Sharpton, an American civil rights activist, was asked by the Nichols family to deliver the eulogy.
The funeral will take place 10:30 a.m. Feb. 1 at the Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church in Memphis.
Pastor Jason Lawrence Turner, secretary-treasurer for the Board of The National Action Network, is hosting the event.
This is a developing story, so check back for updates.
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