Killing of Tyre Nichols

Killing of Tyre Nichols
Killing of Tyre Nichols
	Still image from pole-mounted CCTV footage
Location	Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee, U.S.
Coordinates	35°01′48″N 89°50′21″W / 35.03013°N 89.83903°W
Date	January 7, 2023 (traffic stop); January 10, 2023 (death); ; ≈Tooltip Approximation 8:34 p.m. (CST)
Attack type	Homicide by blunt trauma, police brutality
Victim	Tyre Nichols, aged 29
Perpetrators	Tadarrius Bean; Demetrius Haley; Desmond Mills Jr.; Emmitt Martin III; Justin Smith;
Verdict	Federal:; Mills, Martin:; Pleaded guilty; Haley:; Guilty on all counts; Bean, Smith:; Guilty of obstruction of justice, not guilty on remaining counts; State:; Mills, Martin:; Pleaded guilty; Bean, Haley, Smith; Not guilty on all counts
Convictions	Mills, Martin: Deprivation of rights under color of law resulting in death; Conspiracy to make false statements; Haley:; Deprivation of rights resulting in bodily injury; Willful disregarding of medical needs resulting in bodily injury; Conspiracy to make false statements; Obstruction of justice; Bean, Smith:; Obstruction of justice;
Charges	Federal: Deprivation of rights under color of law resulting in death; Willful disregarding of medical needs resulting in death; Conspiracy to make false statements; Obstruction of justice; State: Second-degree murder; Aggravated assault; Aggravated kidnapping (2 counts); Official misconduct (2 counts); Official oppression;

On January 7, 2023, Tyre Nichols, a 29-year-old black man, was fatally injured by five black police officers in Memphis, Tennessee, and died three days later. The officers, all members of the Memphis Police Department (MPD) SCORPION unit, pulled Nichols from his car before pepper spraying and tasering him. Nichols broke free and ran toward his mother's house, which was less than a mile (1.6 km) away. The officers caught up with Nichols near the house, where they punched, kicked and pepper sprayed him and struck him with a baton. Medics called to the scene did not administer emergency care until 16 minutes after arriving. Nichols was admitted to the hospital in critical condition.

The officers reported that they stopped Nichols for reckless driving. The MPD released four edited video clips from police body cameras and a nearby pole-mounted camera. MPD Police Chief Cerelyn J. Davis later stated that the department had reviewed camera footage and could not find any evidence of probable cause for the traffic stop.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the United States Department of Justice both opened investigations into the incident. The autopsy determined the cause of death as blunt force trauma to the head, and the manner of death as homicide.

The five officers who assaulted Nichols were discharged from the MPD, effective January 8, 2023. They were arrested and charged on January 26 with second-degree murder, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated assault, official misconduct, and official oppression. Three of the officers have pleaded not guilty to the charges. One officer, Desmond Mills Jr., pleaded guilty to federal charges of deprivation of rights and conspiracy and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors on November 2, 2023. Another officer, Emmett Martin III, who initially pleaded not guilty, changed his plea to guilty on August 23, 2024. The MPD has disciplined, relieved of duty, dismissed, or arrested thirteen officers regarding their conduct. Memphis Fire Services terminated three employees for their failure to evaluate or assist Nichols. After the release of the videos, widespread protests began on January 27.

The five officers involved were also charged with civil rights violations by federal authorities in connection with the killing. One of them, Mills, later pleaded guilty to these charges. Mills later agreed to plead guilty to all state charges as well, including murder. A second officer, Martin, pleaded guilty in August 2024. Martin would ultimately plead guilty to all states charges brought against him as well. On October 3, 2024, Haley was convicted of all four counts he was charged with, including civil rights deprivation related charges, while Bean and Smith would each be convicted of one lesser count related to witness tampering. Bean, Haley and Smith were acquitted of all state charges on May 7, 2025.