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5 Memphis Police Officers Charged With Second-Degree Murder Over Tyre Nichols’ Death
Five Memphis police officers have been charged with second-degree murder, among other charges, in connection with the death of Tyre Nichols, who died three days after being stopped by the officers.
Nichols, 29, was a black man who passed away on January 10th, three days following the incident in which the Memphis police stopped him due to “reckless driving.”
According to the initial statement rolled out by authorities, a “confrontation” happened between Nichols and the officers when the former was stopped. This happened at around 8:30 p.m. local time on January 7th.
A “confrontation occurred” between Nichols and the police officers when he was stopped around 8:30 p.m. on January 7, according to an initial statement released by authorities.
However, “another confrontation occurred” when the officers tried to take Nichols into custody.
According to the Memphis Police Department: “While attempting to take the suspect into custody, another confrontation occurred; however, the suspect was ultimately apprehended. Afterward the suspect complained of having shortness of breath, at which point an ambulance was called to the scene.”
Nichols was rushed to St. Francis Hospital, where he was reportedly in critical condition. He passed away three days later.
The Memphis Police Department officers charged included Demetrius Haley, Tadarrius Bean, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills, and Justin Smith. Notably, all of them are also black men.
According to the New York Times, all five of the officers joined the Memphis Police Department between 2017 and 2020.
The officers belonged to the Street Crimes Operation to Restore Peace in Our Neighborhoods (SCORPION) Unit of the Memphis Police Department.
All five of the officers were indicted on Thursday by a grand jury on charges of kidnapping, official misconduct, official oppression, and second-degree murder.
The Memphis Police Department terminated every officer last week, which led to the grand jury's indictment.
The Memphis Fire Department also disclosed that two responders had been “relieved of duty” as a result of an internal inquiry.
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