MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE: Five police officers who were fired after the fatal beating of Tyre Nichols has now been charged with murder. On Thursday, January 26, Action News 5 of Tennessee reported that the officers surrendered and are now taken in custody at the Shelby County jail.
In addition to second-degree murder charges, the former officers will face several charges of official oppression, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated assault, and official misconduct, according to a report. Last week, the five officers, Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills Jr., and Justin Smith were fired from duty following their failure to intervene, failure to offer aid to Nichols, and for using excessive force after the motorist was pulled over for suspected reckless driving. According to the Memphis District Attorney, the second-degree murder charges were described as "knowing murder" and under Tennessee law, the charges can lead to sentencing of 15 to 60 years behind the bars.
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How did Tyre Nichols die?
On January 7, Nichols, the 29-year-old FedEx driver died in a hospital following the brutal beating incident, according to Daily Mail. A day after the beating, police stated that “a confrontation occurred” when the cops approached Nichols and his vehicle. According to their statement, Nichols was taken into custody when "another confrontation occurred."
In a video statement on Wednesday, January 25, Police Chief described the fatal beating as “heinous, reckless, and inhumane.” As the investigation is ongoing, two employees of the Memphis Fire Department who were involved in Nichols’ care have also been removed from their duty. Davis stated, “This is not just a professional failing. This is a failing of basic humanity towards another individual,” and added that the officers had “failed our community, and they failed the Nichols family. This is beyond regrettable.”
Tyre Nichols' family statement
Nichols' stepfather Rodney Wells grieved at the loss and said that no parent should go through what they did. “Family and the attorneys we have will not stop until we get justice. And like I said from day one, justice for us is murder one, and anything less than that we will not accept,” he said.
Recalling how much Nichols' enjoyed skating, his mother spoke highly of him and called him "near-perfect." At a protest, last weekend, Nichols' sister Kenyana Dixon said, "What they did to my brother might have killed us all."
Unable to process the incident, Nichols' friend Volker said that if he tried to flee from the officers, it was only "because he was scared. He's never had to deal with the police,” and added that "as a Black man, he knows better than to fight cops. He was very vocal about BLM. I honestly never thought it would happen to him.”