Five Former Memphis Police Officers Charged with Murder in Death of Tyre Nichols

Five former Memphis police officers have been charged with murder in the death of Tyre Nichols, a Black man who died three days after a violent traffic stop. The incident occurred on the night of Jan. 7, when Nichols, a 29-year-old father and FedEx worker, was returning home from a suburban park.

Memphis City Council Chairman Martavius Jones has called for any demonstrations over Nichols’ death to be conducted in a civil manner. In an effort to provide accountability, video footage of the encounter is expected to be released to the public late Friday, sometime after 7 p.m. ET.

The five officers have been fired and charged with second-degree murder, aggravated assault, and civil rights violations. The charges come after an investigation by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, which was requested by the Shelby County District Attorney’s office.

The family’s attorneys have described Nichols as an avid skateboarder and have expressed concern over what’s been described in the footage as a vicious beating of Nichols by police. Jones has expressed hope that the charges brought forth against the officers will help allay concerns from the community that the matter is not being treated seriously.

The release of the video footage of the incident is expected to provide further insight into the events that led to Nichols’ death. The public is encouraged to remain peaceful in their response to the video.