Outrage erupted across the United States this week over the police killing of a 19 black man, Tire Nichols, age 2, in Memphis, Tennessee, in January. Here’s what we know so far about Nichols’ death and its aftermath.
Who is Tye Nichols?
Tye Nichols, a 19 black father of a four year old son, moved during COVID Lived in CA before coming to Memphis, TN – 19 Pandemic. Memphis-area skateboarders and activists recently gathered to mourn Nichols, a FedEx employee who was a keen photographer and skateboarder when he died.
What were the circumstances of Nichols’ death?
On January 7th, 2023, Nichols was violently beaten by five black Memphis police officers who will pull him for alleged recklessness come by driving. Memphis police said in an initial statement that “a confrontation occurred” as officers approached the vehicle and that Nichols fled; officers said there was “another confrontation” when officers arrested him and that he was arrested after he complained of shortness of breath. An ambulance was called. Nichols died three days later, with an independent autopsy finding he was “bleeding profusely from severe beatings”. ?
The Memphis Police Department announced last week that the five officers involved in the beating of Nichols — Tadarius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmett Martin III, Desmond Mills Jr. and Justin Smith – sacked after an internal investigation found they used excessive force and failed to intervene or help. The officers were charged Thursday with kidnapping, official misconduct and official oppression, in addition to second-degree murder.
What was the public reaction to Nichols’ death?
“All [police officers’] actions resulted in Tire Nichols’ death and they are all responsible,” Memphis District Attorney Steven J. Mulroy said in a statement Thursday. It echoed the anger of activists and protesters planning to stage protests against police brutality in Memphis and other U.S. cities. “I join Thiel’s family in calling for peaceful protest,” President Joe Biden said Thursday, and Laura Dene King, daughter of police brutality victim Rodney King, said in a recent statement that Nico The video of Erles being beaten was “disgusting”. She added: “We shouldn’t be in this world witnessing things like this over and over again, with different names behind the labels.”
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