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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."<ref name="commercial" /> 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.<ref name="novisibleprovocation" /> The pepper spray also hit several of the other officers.<ref name="commercial">{{cite news |last1=Burgess |first1=Katherine |title=Video shows police kicking, pepper spraying, beating Tyre Nichols after traffic stop |url=https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/news/crime/2023/01/28/tyre-nichols-videos-released/69848091007/ |access-date=January 29, 2023 |work=[[Memphis Commercial Appeal]] |date=January 28, 2023}}</ref> 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{{nbsp}}p.m.<ref name="timeline">{{cite web |last1=Cardia |first1=Alexander |last2=Kao |first2=Jason |last3=Koettl |first3=Christoph |last4=Lutz |first4=Eleanor |last5=Singhvi |first5=Anjali |last6=Stein |first6=Robin |date=January 28, 2023 |title=A Timeline of Tyre Nichols's Lethal Police Encounter |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/01/27/us/tyre-nichols-police-beating-timeline.html |url-access=registration |access-date=January 28, 2023 |website=The New York Times}}</ref> Footage showed that one officer who remained at the area of the traffic stop said, "I hope they stomp his ass".<ref name="stomp">{{cite news |last1=Bogel-Burroughs |first1=Nicholas |date=January 27, 2023 |title=Videos show Memphis police kicking and beating Tyre Nichols as he begs them to stop. |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/27/us/tyre-nichols-video-memphis-police.html |url-access=registration |access-date=January 28, 2023 |archive-url=https://archive.is/eR3JR |archive-date=January 28, 2023}}</ref> |
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."<ref name="commercial" /> 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.<ref name="novisibleprovocation" /> The pepper spray also hit several of the other officers.<ref name="commercial">{{cite news |last1=Burgess |first1=Katherine |title=Video shows police kicking, pepper spraying, beating Tyre Nichols after traffic stop |url=https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/news/crime/2023/01/28/tyre-nichols-videos-released/69848091007/ |access-date=January 29, 2023 |work=[[Memphis Commercial Appeal]] |date=January 28, 2023}}</ref> 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{{nbsp}}p.m.<ref name="timeline">{{cite web |last1=Cardia |first1=Alexander |last2=Kao |first2=Jason |last3=Koettl |first3=Christoph |last4=Lutz |first4=Eleanor |last5=Singhvi |first5=Anjali |last6=Stein |first6=Robin |date=January 28, 2023 |title=A Timeline of Tyre Nichols's Lethal Police Encounter |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/01/27/us/tyre-nichols-police-beating-timeline.html |url-access=registration |access-date=January 28, 2023 |website=The New York Times}}</ref> Footage showed that one officer who remained at the area of the traffic stop said, "I hope they stomp his ass".<ref name="stomp">{{cite news |last1=Bogel-Burroughs |first1=Nicholas |date=January 27, 2023 |title=Videos show Memphis police kicking and beating Tyre Nichols as he begs them to stop. |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/27/us/tyre-nichols-video-memphis-police.html |url-access=registration |access-date=January 28, 2023 |archive-url=https://archive.is/eR3JR |archive-date=January 28, 2023}}</ref> |
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After running away, officers caught up to Nichols approximately a half a mile ({{convert|1/2|mi|m|disp=out|abbr=off|sp=us}}) away from the original traffic stop, at 8:33{{nbsp}}p.m., where he was then beaten for three more minutes.<ref name="timeline" /> Body camera footage showed an officer shouting to Nichols: "I'm going to baton the fuck out of you."<ref name="novisibleprovocation">{{cite news |last1=Hanna |first1=Jason |last2=Hartfield |first2=Elizabeth |title=Video shows Tyre Nichols calling for his mother, beaten by officers now charged in his death |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2023/01/27/us/tyre-nichols-memphis-friday/index.html |access-date=January 28, 2023 |work=[[CNN]]}}</ref> 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.<ref name="brutal">{{cite news |last1=Davies |first1=Emily |last2=Klemko |first2=Robert |last3=Sohyun Lee |first3=Joyce |title=Video shows brutal Memphis police beating of Tyre Nichols |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/01/27/tyre-nichols-memphis-police-body-cam-footage/ |url-access=registration |access-date=January 28, 2023}}</ref> 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.<ref name="novisibleprovocation" /> The footage shows at least five punches to Nichols's face.<ref name="brutal" /> ''The New York Times'' reported that Nichols repeatedly cried out for his mother and {{nowrap|"[did]}} not appear to ever strike back" during the beating |
After running away, officers caught up to Nichols approximately a half a mile ({{convert|1/2|mi|m|disp=out|abbr=off|sp=us}}) away from the original traffic stop, at 8:33{{nbsp}}p.m., where he was then beaten for three more minutes.<ref name="timeline" /> Body camera footage showed an officer shouting to Nichols: "I'm going to baton the fuck out of you."<ref name="novisibleprovocation">{{cite news |last1=Hanna |first1=Jason |last2=Hartfield |first2=Elizabeth |title=Video shows Tyre Nichols calling for his mother, beaten by officers now charged in his death |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2023/01/27/us/tyre-nichols-memphis-friday/index.html |access-date=January 28, 2023 |work=[[CNN]]}}</ref> 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.<ref name="brutal">{{cite news |last1=Davies |first1=Emily |last2=Klemko |first2=Robert |last3=Sohyun Lee |first3=Joyce |title=Video shows brutal Memphis police beating of Tyre Nichols |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/01/27/tyre-nichols-memphis-police-body-cam-footage/ |url-access=registration |access-date=January 28, 2023}}</ref> 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.<ref name="novisibleprovocation" /> The footage shows at least five punches to Nichols's face.<ref name="brutal" /> ''The New York Times'' reported that Nichols repeatedly cried out for his mother and {{nowrap|"[did]}} not appear to ever strike back" during the beating. |
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News analysis into the use of force also determined that the 7 police officers on scene issued a total of 71 commands, some of which were contradictory in itself, within the space of 13 minutes. Some of these commands were unachievable orders to comply with:<ref name="stomp" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Wallace |first=Danielle |date=2023-01-31 |title=Memphis cops reportedly gave Tyre Nichols 71 commands in 13 minutes: 'So far out of the norm' |url=https://www.foxnews.com/us/memphis-cops-reportedly-gave-tyre-nichols-71-commands-13-minutes-so-far-norm |access-date=2023-02-01 |website=Fox News |language=en-US}}</ref> |
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* For example Nichols was traffic stopped for (alleged) reckless driving<ref>{{Cite web |last=News |first=A. B. C. |title=Tyre Nichols: A timeline of the investigation into his death |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/tyre-nichols-timeline-investigation-death/story?id=96695791 |access-date=2023-02-01 |website=ABC News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-01-27 |title=Memphis police chief says there’s ‘no proof’ of Tyre Nichols reckless driving claim |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/crime/tyre-nichols-memphis-police-reckless-driving-b2270667.html |access-date=2023-02-01 |website=The Independent |language=en}}</ref>, but at the same time he was stopped and told to lie on the ground, in the middle of road traffic. |
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* An officer ordered Nichols on the ground, even though he was already on the ground, to which Nichols subsequently protests: "I am on the ground".<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=71 Commands in 13 Minutes: When Tyre Nichols Couldn't Comply With Impossible Orders, Police Assaulted Him |url=https://news.yahoo.com/71-commands-13-minutes-tyre-124559371.html |access-date=2023-02-01 |website=news.yahoo.com |language=en-US}}</ref> |
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* One officer demanded that Nichols give him his hands, even though one officer was holding his left arm, and another officer held his right wrist in a firm grip.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last1=Stein |first1=Robin |last2=Cardia |first2=Alexander |last3=Reneau |first3=Natalie |date=January 29, 2023 |title=71 Commands in 13 Minutes: Officers Gave Tyre Nichols Impossible Orders |language=en-US |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/29/us/tyre-nichols-video-assault-cops.html |url-access=registration |access-date=January 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230130034402/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/29/us/tyre-nichols-video-assault-cops.html |archive-date=January 30, 2023 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> |
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* Another officer commanded Nichols reposition himself and roll onto his stomach, but at the same time another officer was kneeling on his legs, which made it impossible for Nichols to roll to his stomach.<ref name=":1" /> |
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* An officer ran up with a can of pepper spray and threatened Nichols "You`re about to get sprayed real" good. At the same time another officer barks at Nichols to show his hands, and Nichols pleads with them: "Ok, All right, awright", upon which Nichols face is immediately doused with pepper spray. He then pulls his hands back to protect his eyes, at which point his face is punched by another police officer for retracting his hands, and barking at him to "show me your hands".<ref name=":2" /> |
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* At another point one officer commands Nichol`s to "lay flat", but then another officer his seen kicking Nichols in the face. Nichols moans in pain and writhes his body on the ground, to which the first officer shouts at him to "lay flat, goddamit".<ref name=":2" /> |
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* When Nichols was lying on the pavement, next to roadside parked car, one officer uses Mr. Nichols`s handcuffed arm to pull his body from the ground, into a kneeling position, at which point another officer then strikes him with a baton several times, yelling “Give me your fucking hands!” Nichols therefore tried to writhe away in pain from the baton beating, which angered three officers, one pinning his arms behind his back, another gripping his handcuffed wrist and yet a third punching his face.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Legaspi |first=Althea |last2=Legaspi |first2=Althea |date=2023-01-30 |title=Police Ordered Tyre Nichols to Obey 71 Commands. He Was Set Up to Fail |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/tyre-nichols-video-analysis-impossible-police-commands-1234670670/ |access-date=2023-02-01 |website=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}</ref> |
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By 8:37 p.m., Nichols was handcuffed and limp; officers propped him against the side of a police car.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tyre Nichols Punched, Kicked in Face, Pepper Sprayed in Police Body Cam Footage |url=https://www.tmz.com/2023/01/27/tyre-nichols-police-body-cam-footage-video-memphis-arrest-cop/ |access-date=January 28, 2023 |website=TMZ |language=en}}</ref> 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."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Buncombe |first1=Andrew |date=January 28, 2023 |title=Tyre Nichols video shows officers boasting as he lies motionless: 'Hitting him with straight haymakers, dog' |work=[[The Independent]] |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/memphis-police-video-officers-beating-tyre-nichols-b2270975.html |url-access=registration |access-date=January 28, 2023}}</ref> Medics arrived around 8:41 p.m. but did not begin to assist Nichols until 16{{nbsp}}minutes later. An ambulance arrived at 9:02 p.m. and took Nichols to St. Francis Hospital at 9:18{{nbsp}}p.m. after he complained of shortness of breath.<ref name="timeline" /> He died three days later on January 10; the preliminary results of an autopsy commissioned by his family found "excessive bleeding caused by a severe beating".<ref>{{cite web |title=Autopsy indicates Tyre Nichols was beaten by police – lawyers |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-64404827 |website=BBC News |first1=Mike |last1=Wendling |access-date=28 January 2023 |date=25 January 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Levenson |first1=Jamiel |last2=Lynch |first2=Nick |last3=Valencia |first3=Eric |date=2023-01-25 |title=Tyre Nichols had 'extensive bleeding caused by a severe beating,' according to preliminary autopsy commissioned by family |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/25/us/tyre-nichols-death-preliminary-results-independent-autopsy/index.html |access-date=2023-01-31 |work=CNN |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Mander |first=C |title=Independent autopsy finds Tyre Nichols suffered "excessive bleeding" after encounter with police, family lawyers say |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tyre-nichols-autopsy-excessive-bleeding-ben-crump-antonio-romanucci/ |access-date=2023-01-31 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}</ref> |
By 8:37 p.m., Nichols was handcuffed and limp; officers propped him against the side of a police car.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tyre Nichols Punched, Kicked in Face, Pepper Sprayed in Police Body Cam Footage |url=https://www.tmz.com/2023/01/27/tyre-nichols-police-body-cam-footage-video-memphis-arrest-cop/ |access-date=January 28, 2023 |website=TMZ |language=en}}</ref> 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."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Buncombe |first1=Andrew |date=January 28, 2023 |title=Tyre Nichols video shows officers boasting as he lies motionless: 'Hitting him with straight haymakers, dog' |work=[[The Independent]] |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/memphis-police-video-officers-beating-tyre-nichols-b2270975.html |url-access=registration |access-date=January 28, 2023}}</ref> Medics arrived around 8:41 p.m. but did not begin to assist Nichols until 16{{nbsp}}minutes later. An ambulance arrived at 9:02 p.m. and took Nichols to St. Francis Hospital at 9:18{{nbsp}}p.m. after he complained of shortness of breath.<ref name="timeline" /> He died three days later on January 10; the preliminary results of an autopsy commissioned by his family found "excessive bleeding caused by a severe beating".<ref>{{cite web |title=Autopsy indicates Tyre Nichols was beaten by police – lawyers |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-64404827 |website=BBC News |first1=Mike |last1=Wendling |access-date=28 January 2023 |date=25 January 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Levenson |first1=Jamiel |last2=Lynch |first2=Nick |last3=Valencia |first3=Eric |date=2023-01-25 |title=Tyre Nichols had 'extensive bleeding caused by a severe beating,' according to preliminary autopsy commissioned by family |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/25/us/tyre-nichols-death-preliminary-results-independent-autopsy/index.html |access-date=2023-01-31 |work=CNN |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Mander |first=C |title=Independent autopsy finds Tyre Nichols suffered "excessive bleeding" after encounter with police, family lawyers say |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tyre-nichols-autopsy-excessive-bleeding-ben-crump-antonio-romanucci/ |access-date=2023-01-31 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}</ref> |
Revision as of 15:34, 1 February 2023
Date |
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Location | Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. |
Coordinates | 35°01′48″N 89°50′20″W / 35.0301°N 89.8390°W[1] |
Type | Police brutality |
Deaths | Tyre Nichols |
Accused |
|
Charges |
On January 7, 2023, five Black police officers of the Memphis Police Department (MPD), severely beat Tyre Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man, during a traffic stop. Nichols was hospitalized in critical condition and died three days later.[2][3][4]
The officers stopped Nichols for alleged reckless driving,[a] pulled him from his car, and used pepper spray and a taser on him. During the incident, Nichols managed to break away. 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.[7] The preliminary results of an autopsy commissioned by Nichol's family found "extensive bleeding caused by a severe beating".[8]
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the United States Department of Justice both opened investigations.[9] The five officers were fired on January 20. They were arrested on January 26 and charged with murder, kidnapping, assault, and misconduct. Three firefighters – two emergency medical technicians and a lieutenant – who attended the scene were relieved of duty and subsequently fired for failing to conduct an adequate patient assessment of Nichols. Two other police officers were also later relieved of duty.
On January 27, MPD released four clips of edited video showing events between 8:24 p.m. and 9:02 p.m. from January 7; the release of the police body camera footage plus surveillance footage led to widespread protests.[10][11]
People involved
Tyre Nichols
Tyre Deandre Nichols (/ˈtaɪ.ri ˈnɪk.əlz/ TY-ree;[12] June 5, 1993 – January 10, 2023),[13] a 29-year-old Black man with a then-four-year-old son, who was working for FedEx.[14][15] He was also an amateur photographer with his own photography website.[16][17][18]
Nichols was raised in Sacramento, California, and moved to Memphis in 2020.[19] According to his family's attorney, Nichols had a slim build due to Crohn's disease, weighing 145 pounds (66 kilograms) at a height of 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 meters).[20]
Police officers
The five Black police officers involved each had three to six years of experience.[21][22][23] All were members of a 30-person specialized hot spot policing unit known as Scorpion (Street Crimes Operation to Restore Peace In Our Neighborhoods).[24] Scorpion was assembled in October 2021 to deal with serious crimes.[25][26] Scorpion officers drove unmarked cars and many dressed in plainclothes, wearing bulletproof vests marked "Police".[27]
The officers were identified as:
- Tadarrius Bean, 24, hired August 2020
- Demetrius Haley, 30, hired August 2020 (a former corrections officer)
- Emmitt Martin III, 30, hired March 2018
- Desmond Mills Jr., 32, hired March 2017 (a former jailer in Mississippi and Tennessee)
- Justin Smith, 28, hired March 2018.[23]
Traffic stop and death
External videos | |
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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 stated on January 8 that the traffic stop of Nichols was due to reckless driving.[5][6] On January 27, Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn 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."[5][6]
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."[28] 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.[11] The pepper spray also hit several of the other officers.[28] 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.[29] Footage showed that one officer who remained at the area of the traffic stop said, "I hope they stomp his ass".[30]
After running away, officers caught up to Nichols approximately a half a mile (800 meters) away from the original traffic stop, at 8:33 p.m., where he was then beaten for three more minutes.[29] Body camera footage showed an officer shouting to Nichols: "I'm going to baton the fuck out of you."[11] 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.[31] 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.[11] The footage shows at least five punches to Nichols's face.[31] The New York Times reported that Nichols repeatedly cried out for his mother and "[did] not appear to ever strike back" during the beating.
News analysis into the use of force also determined that the 7 police officers on scene issued a total of 71 commands, some of which were contradictory in itself, within the space of 13 minutes. Some of these commands were unachievable orders to comply with:[30][32]
- For example Nichols was traffic stopped for (alleged) reckless driving[33][34], but at the same time he was stopped and told to lie on the ground, in the middle of road traffic.
- An officer ordered Nichols on the ground, even though he was already on the ground, to which Nichols subsequently protests: "I am on the ground".[35]
- One officer demanded that Nichols give him his hands, even though one officer was holding his left arm, and another officer held his right wrist in a firm grip.[36]
- Another officer commanded Nichols reposition himself and roll onto his stomach, but at the same time another officer was kneeling on his legs, which made it impossible for Nichols to roll to his stomach.[35]
- An officer ran up with a can of pepper spray and threatened Nichols "You`re about to get sprayed real" good. At the same time another officer barks at Nichols to show his hands, and Nichols pleads with them: "Ok, All right, awright", upon which Nichols face is immediately doused with pepper spray. He then pulls his hands back to protect his eyes, at which point his face is punched by another police officer for retracting his hands, and barking at him to "show me your hands".[36]
- At another point one officer commands Nichol`s to "lay flat", but then another officer his seen kicking Nichols in the face. Nichols moans in pain and writhes his body on the ground, to which the first officer shouts at him to "lay flat, goddamit".[36]
- When Nichols was lying on the pavement, next to roadside parked car, one officer uses Mr. Nichols`s handcuffed arm to pull his body from the ground, into a kneeling position, at which point another officer then strikes him with a baton several times, yelling “Give me your fucking hands!” Nichols therefore tried to writhe away in pain from the baton beating, which angered three officers, one pinning his arms behind his back, another gripping his handcuffed wrist and yet a third punching his face.[37]
By 8:37 p.m., Nichols was handcuffed and limp; officers propped him against the side of a police car.[38] 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."[39] 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.[29] He died three days later on January 10; the preliminary results of an autopsy commissioned by his family found "excessive bleeding caused by a severe beating".[40][41][42]
In the released videos from after the beating, two officers claim Nichols reached for their weapons. This claim is not substantiated by the videos,[43] with one expert noting that none of the officers seemed to indicate they were threatened, nor did any of the officers communicate the alleged reaching to fellow officers during the stop. [44]
Investigations and criminal charges
On January 7, Shelby County 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.[45] The U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) also opened a civil rights investigation.[46] On January 20, Memphis Police announced that the five officers would be fired.[47][48][49]
On January 24, the five officers were arrested and charged with second-degree murder, aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping, official misconduct, and official oppression.[50][51] As of January 27, all five men have posted bail and been released, according to Shelby County Jail records.[52]
Before the release of the video on January 27, police chief Davis said probable cause for reckless driving by Nichols had not been substantiated.[53]
By January 24, two Memphis Fire Department emergency medical technicians who were on scene had been relieved of duty without further explanation.[54] A week later, a total of three MFD employees had been fired – the two EMTs and a lieutenant – for failing to conduct a proper patient assessment and treatment, a break in policies and procedures.[55][56]
On Monday, Jan. 30th, authorities announced that two other police officers, Preston Hemphill and an unidentified officer, had also been relieved of duty.[57][58]
Nichols' family retained attorneys Benjamin Crump[20] and Antonio Romanucci.[59]
Reaction
Protests
On January 27, the police body-worn camera video footage of the incident was released to the public.[60] Chief of police 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.[60]
Following the release of the video, protesters in Memphis blocked traffic on Interstate 55.[61] 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.[62][63]
Other reactions
U.S. President Joe Biden spoke with the Nichols family and joined in their call for peaceful protest.[64][65][66] 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.[60]
Various police officers reacted to the death of Tyre Nichols. Police 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."[67] On January 27, in an appearance on Good Morning America, she said, "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.[68] New York City Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell, denounced what she called "disgraceful actions", while Chicago Police Superintendent, David O. Brown, called the video "horrific".[69] 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."[60] 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."[60][70]
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 Grizzlies and Minnesota Timberwolves.[71]
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."[72] 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."[73]
The Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation issued a statement that stated, "Although the media has spent a great amount of time drawing attention to the fact that the police officers are Black, as if that is important, let us be clear: ALL police represent the interest of capitalism and impel state-sanctioned violence. Anyone who works within a system that perpetuates state-sanctioned violence is complicit in upholding white supremacy."[74]
Aftermath
After Nichols's death, Chief Davis called for a review of the Scorpion unit,[26][75] and the unit was disbanded on January 28.[76][69]
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.[77]
See also
Notes
- ^ 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).[5][6]
References
- ^ Cardia, Alexander; Kao, Jason; Koettl, Christoph; Lutz, Eleanor; Singhvi, Anjali; Stein, Robin (January 28, 2023). "A Timeline of Tyre Nichols's Lethal Police Encounter". The New York Times. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
- ^ "Tyre Nichols: Mum calls for peace ahead of police bodycam footage release". ITV News. January 27, 2023. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
- ^ Sullivan, Becky (January 27, 2023). "Memphis braces for the release of Tyre Nichols arrest footage". NPR. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
- ^ Clifford, Tyler (January 27, 2023). "Five ex-Memphis police officers were charged with murder in death of Tyre Nichols". Reuters. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
- ^ a b c Knutson, Jacob (January 27, 2023). "City of Memphis releases footage of police fatally beating Tyre Nichols". Axios. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
- ^ a b c Marcus, Josh (January 28, 2023). "Why was Tyre Nichols stopped by Memphis police?". The Independent. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
- ^ Released footage of the traffic stop
- ^ "'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.
- ^ "Statement from United States Attorney Kevin G. Ritz". Department of Justice. January 18, 2023. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b c d 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.
- ^ Strickland, Jim [@CityOfMemphis] (January 26, 2023). "City of Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland statement regarding Tyre Nichols Thursday, January 26, 2023" (Tweet). Retrieved January 27, 2023 – via Twitter.
- ^ Yancey-Bragg, N'dea; Finton, Lucas; Burgess, Katherine; Watts, Micaela A.; Santucci, Jeanine. "Video shows Memphis police violently beating Tyre Nichols in the traffic stop that led to his death". USA Today. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
- ^ Slow, Oliver (January 27, 2023). "Tyre Nichols: Family remembers 'a beautiful soul'". BBC News. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
- ^ Rojas, Rick (January 26, 2023). "Who was Tyre Nichols?". The New York Times. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "About". tnicholsphotography.
- ^ Luscombe, Richard (January 27, 2023). "'He had a beautiful soul': Tyre Nichols' parents reflect on the son who was taken from them". The Guardian. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
- ^ McGough, Michael (January 27, 2023). "Family of Tyre Nichols urge calm as police prepare to release video of fatal beating". The Sacramento Bee. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
- ^ a b Fausset, Richard (January 27, 2023). "From Sacramento to Memphis, Tyre Nichols Cut His Own Path". The New York Times. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
- ^ McGrady, Clyde (January 28, 2023). "Tyre Nichols Beating Opens a Complex Conversation on Race and Policing". The New York Times. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
- ^ Klemko, Robert; Foster-Frau, Silvia; Davies, Emily (January 29, 2023). "Black Memphis police spark dialogue on systemic racism in the U.S.". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
- ^ a b Lenthang, Marlene; Chan, Melissa; Planas, Antonio; Siemaszko, Corky (January 27, 2023). "What we know about the 5 Memphis police officers charged with beating Tyre Nichols to death". NBC News. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
- ^ Duster, Chandelis (January 27, 2023). "Memphis special police unit accused in Tyre Nichols' death faces scrutiny". CNN. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
- ^ Matza, Max (January 26, 2023). "Tyre Nichols: What is the 'Scorpion' unit of Memphis police?". BBC. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
- ^ a b Graham, David A. (January 27, 2023). "Memphis's Policing Strategy Was Bound to Result in Tragedy". The Atlantic. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
- ^ "Legal analyst on significance of officers getting same charges in Nichols case". CNN. January 26, 2023. at 2:35. Retrieved January 30, 2023 – via YouTube.
- ^ a b Burgess, Katherine (January 28, 2023). "Video shows police kicking, pepper spraying, beating Tyre Nichols after traffic stop". Memphis Commercial Appeal. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
- ^ a b c Cardia, Alexander; Kao, Jason; Koettl, Christoph; Lutz, Eleanor; Singhvi, Anjali; Stein, Robin (January 28, 2023). "A Timeline of Tyre Nichols's Lethal Police Encounter". The New York Times. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
- ^ a b Bogel-Burroughs, Nicholas (January 27, 2023). "Videos show Memphis police kicking and beating Tyre Nichols as he begs them to stop". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 28, 2023. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
- ^ a b Davies, Emily; Klemko, Robert; Sohyun Lee, Joyce. "Video shows brutal Memphis police beating of Tyre Nichols". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
- ^ Wallace, Danielle (January 31, 2023). "Memphis cops reportedly gave Tyre Nichols 71 commands in 13 minutes: 'So far out of the norm'". Fox News. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
- ^ News, A. B. C. "Tyre Nichols: A timeline of the investigation into his death". ABC News. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
{{cite web}}
:|last=
has generic name (help) - ^ "Memphis police chief says there's 'no proof' of Tyre Nichols reckless driving claim". The Independent. January 27, 2023. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
- ^ a b "71 Commands in 13 Minutes: When Tyre Nichols Couldn't Comply With Impossible Orders, Police Assaulted Him". news.yahoo.com. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
- ^ a b c Stein, Robin; Cardia, Alexander; Reneau, Natalie (January 29, 2023). "71 Commands in 13 Minutes: Officers Gave Tyre Nichols Impossible Orders". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on January 30, 2023. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
- ^ Legaspi, Althea; Legaspi, Althea (January 30, 2023). "Police Ordered Tyre Nichols to Obey 71 Commands. He Was Set Up to Fail". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
- ^ "Tyre Nichols Punched, Kicked in Face, Pepper Sprayed in Police Body Cam Footage". TMZ. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
- ^ Buncombe, Andrew (January 28, 2023). "Tyre Nichols video shows officers boasting as he lies motionless: 'Hitting him with straight haymakers, dog'". The Independent. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
- ^ Wendling, Mike (January 25, 2023). "Autopsy indicates Tyre Nichols was beaten by police – lawyers". BBC News. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
- ^ Levenson, Jamiel; Lynch, Nick; Valencia, Eric (January 25, 2023). "Tyre Nichols had 'extensive bleeding caused by a severe beating,' according to preliminary autopsy commissioned by family". CNN. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
- ^ Mander, C. "Independent autopsy finds Tyre Nichols suffered "excessive bleeding" after encounter with police, family lawyers say". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
- ^ Bogel-Burroughs, Nicholas (January 27, 2023). "Live Updates: Memphis Video Captures Officers' Brutal Beating of Tyre Nichols". The New York Times. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
- ^ Kirkpatrick, David (January 28, 2023). "The Police Folklore That Helped Kill Tyre Nichols". The New Yorker. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
- ^ "Tyre Nichols died after a traffic stop with Memphis Police. A timeline of events". The Commercial Appeal. January 20, 2023. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
- ^ Smart, Sara; Lynch, Jamiel (January 18, 2023). "DOJ and FBI open civil rights investigation into the death of Memphis man who passed away after arrest". CNN. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
- ^ Almasy, Steve; Razek, Raja (January 20, 2023). "5 Memphis officers fired after death of man who was hospitalized after his arrest". CNN. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
- ^ Gertler, Jessica; Rucker, Stuart (January 20, 2023). "Five MPD Officers fired after Nichols investigation". WREG-TV. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
- ^ "5 Memphis police officers fired in death of Tyre Nichols". CBS News. January 20, 2023. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
- ^ Clifford, Tyler (January 26, 2023). "Former Memphis officers arrested on murder charges in the death of Tyre Nichols". Reuters. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
- ^ Sainz, Adrian; Reynolds, Rebecca (January 26, 2023). "DA: 5 Memphis cops 'all responsible' for Tyre Nichols' death". AP News. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Caldwell, Travis (January 27, 2023). "'You're going to see acts that defy humanity,' police chief says, as officials urge calm when Tyre Nichols arrest videos are released publicly tonight". CNN. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "3 Memphis Fire employees terminated in Tyre Nichols investigation". WREG-TV. January 30, 2023. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
- ^ "3 Memphis Fire Dept. Workers Terminated After Failing To Render Proper Aid To Tyre Nichols". HuffPost. January 30, 2023. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
- ^ "7 officers involved in Tyre Nichols' death relieved of duty, 3 Memphis FD members fired". ABC News. January 30, 2023. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
- ^ Brown, Jackson (January 30, 2023). "Shelby County D.A. not ruling out charges for Preston Hemphill, 6th officer named in Tyre Nichols death". kvue.com. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
- ^ Caldwell, Travis (January 27, 2023). "A timeline of the investigations into Tyre Nichols' death after a traffic stop and arrest by Memphis police". CNN. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e Sainz, Adrian (January 27, 2023). "Memphis authorities release video in Tyre Nichols' death". AP News. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
- ^ Moon, Melissa (January 28, 2023). "Tyre Nichols protestors shut down old I-55 Bridge". WREG-TV. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Salahieh, Nouran (January 29, 2023). "Protesters across the US decry police brutality after Tyre Nichols' death". CNN. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
- ^ Samuels, Brett (January 27, 2023). "Biden speaks to parents of Tyre Nichols ahead of expected video release". The Hill. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
- ^ Biden, Joe (January 26, 2023). "Statement from President Joe Biden on the Tyre Nichols Case". whitehouse.gov (Press release). Office of the President of the United States of America. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
- ^ Clifford, Tyler (January 27, 2023). "Five ex-Memphis police officers charged with murder in death of Tyre Nichols". Reuters.
- ^ Berman, Mark (January 27, 2023). "Tyre Nichols case is 'defining moment' for Memphis chief Cerelyn Davis". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
- ^ Winsor, Morgan (January 27, 2023). "Memphis police chief 'horrified' at Tyre Nichols video, set to be released today". ABC News. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Timberwolves top Memphis after moment of silence for Nichols". Minnesota Public Radio. January 28, 2023. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
- ^ Bekiempis, Victoria (January 29, 2023). "'Systemic crisis': Tyre Nichols beating fuels calls for broad police reforms". The Guardian. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
- ^ Cohen, David (January 29, 2023). "Time for 'national conversation' on policing, Durbin says". Politico. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
- ^ "Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation Statement on the Murder of Tyre Nichols". blacklivesmatter.com. Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation. January 27, 2023.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Sainz, Adrian (January 28, 2023). "Memphis police disband unit that beat Tyre Nichols". AP News. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
- ^ 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
- State of Tennessee v. Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmit Martin, Desmond Mills, Jr., and Justin Smith (Criminal Court of Shelby County January 26, 2023), Text.