A Tennessee jury acquitted three former Memphis police officers—Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, and Justin Smith—of all state charges in the fatal beating of Tyre Nichols, a Black motorist, which triggered nationwide protests two years ago. They were found not guilty of second-degree murder and other charges, leading to their immediate release in a Memphis courtroom. Emotions ran high as the men embraced each other and their lawyers following the verdict.
Tyre Nichols, a FedEx employee and aspiring photographer, was stopped for alleged reckless driving on January 7, 2023. During the encounter, officers aggressively removed him from his car, with one officer shouting profanities. Nichols insisted he hadn’t done anything wrong and attempted to flee towards his mother’s home. However, he was apprehended shortly thereafter by the police. Body camera footage revealed officers using pepper spray and a Taser before brutally beating Nichols, who cried out for his mother during the assault.
Prosecutors described the officers’ actions as “unnecessary” and “excessive,” reflecting a dangerous practice known as the “street tax” used by some law enforcement against suspects who attempt to escape. Nichols succumbed to his injuries three days later, prompting significant public outcry and protests against police brutality across the nation. In the wake of his death, his parents attended President Biden’s State of the Union address, highlighting their loss and the larger issue of excessive police force in America. The former officers had previously been convicted on federal charges related to Nichols’ death.
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