Five former Memphis police officers have been charged with second-degree murder in the death of 29-year-old Tire Nichols. According to CBS News, the announcement was made by Tennessee authorities on Thursday.
Five former Memphis police officers are facing murder charges for the death of Tire Nichols, a 29-year-old father who died three days after a traffic stop turned violent. The district attorney said video of the arrest will be released tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/jZkKddsUkR
– CBS Evening News (@CBSEeveningNews) January 27, 2023
Body Cam footage of Nichols’ arrest is expected to be released on Friday night
According to Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy, charges have been filed against all five officers involved in the fatal arrest of Nichols. The officers were named Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Desmond Mills, Jr., Emmitt Martin III and Justin Smith. And the charges include “second-degree murder, aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping, official misconduct, and official oppression,” according to the outlet’s report.
Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Director David Rausch shared his thoughts on the officer’s actions during a press conference announcing the release.
In a word, it’s absolutely horrible. Let me be clear, what happened here does not at all reflect the correct policy. This is wrong. This is crime.
“This is wrong. This is a crime”
TBI director Rausch described the Tire Nichols video as “absolutely appalling.” https://t.co/nbfeYXoh6V pic.twitter.com/a8hSzpQWhy
– CBS News (@CBSNews) January 26, 2023
Mulroy added that all five officers played a separate role in the death of Nichols, 29.
They are all responsible.
Police agencies are anticipating backlash after video of the arrest is made public
Body footage and fixed camera footage of the deadly arrest is expected to be released “sometime after 6 p.m. Friday,” CBS News reported. As The Shade Room previously reported, the footage was shown to Nichols’ family.
Memphis Police Superintendent Cerelyn “CJ” Davis asked residents to “protest peacefully” after the footage was made public.
This is not just a professional failure. This is the failure of basic humanity to another individual.
However, Memphis authorities are preparing for a backlash and protests. And even notified police departments around the country to prepare for the same.
With the city of Memphis and the country tense tonight, CBS News learned that sheriffs around the country were working together to prepare for the backlash after the video of Tire Nichols’ arrest was released. pic.twitter.com/Q03zzEIWI2
– CBS Evening News (@CBSEeveningNews) January 27, 2023
According to the source, Nichols was returning home from taking pictures of the sunset. His legal team alleges that officers beat the 29-year-old man for three minutes, reminiscent of the 1991 beating of Rodney King. Nichols, a 29-year-old FedEx worker, and his father – were charged. was “shocked, pepper-sprayed, and restrained” during interception and arrest.
