29-year-old Tyre Nichols was killed at the hands of police officers in Memphis, Tennessee. Tyre was assaulted by the Memphis Police Department on January 7, 2023. Tyre died on January 10, 2023 at the hospital. The officers were arrested charged with murder, they are identified as Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Desmond Mills, Emmitt Martin, and Justin Smith.
Tyre on the ground during arrest. Right: Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Desmond Mills, Emmitt Martin, and Justin Smith
Tyre worked at FedEx with his relative.
Cops attempted to pull Tyre over around 8 p.m. for reckless driving after his work shift. Tyre initially did not stop and kept driving and making turns. Tyre finally pulled over at an intersection and cops approached him and threw him to the ground.
Tyre Nichols
Tyre wrestles away the cops and stands to his feet running off. Cops lose Tyre for a brief moment. But officers find Tyre at another intersection minutes later.
It was at the second intersection that the officers are seen on video kicking, punching, and beating Tyre with a baton while his hands were behind his back.
As Tyre was on the ground, cops pepper sprayed Tyre. An officer is seen kicking Tyre in the face multiple times. Another officer is then seen hitting Tyre several times with a hard baton.
The cops then stand Tyre up with his hands behind his back and another officer punches Tyre in the face countless times.
Officers then put Tyre back on the ground.
Tyre died 3 days later in the hospital. Authorities have not released an autopsy report, but they have said there appeared to be no justification for the traffic stop, and nothing of note was found in Tyre’s car.
Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn Davis said the officers’ actions were heinous, reckless and inhumane. On January 15, 2023 the officers involved were fired from the police department.
The officers are: Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Desmond Mills, Emmitt Martin, and Justin Smith.
On January 26, 2023 court records showed that all five officers involved were arrested.
The officers each face charges of second degree murder, aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping, official misconduct and official oppression.
Now the U.S. Attorney’s Office in coordination with the FBI and the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice have opened a civil rights investigation into the case of Tyre Nichols.
Tyre’s family has hired civil rights attorney Ben Crump to represent them. They plan on suing the Memphis Police Department.
