Memphis to release new evidence in Tyre Nichols police murder investigation

March 8, 2023

Memphis officials planned to release a trove of additional video and audio evidence in connection with the fatal police beating of Tyre Nichols Wednesday, a day after it was announced that a seventh officer was fired for their role in the brutal encounter.

The developments came as the city’s chief legal officer Jennifer Sink told city councilmembers Tuesday that an eighth police employee would have also been fired in connection with the Jan. 7 deadly beating of the unarmed black man, but he had retired amid an internal probe.

Five of the six named officers that were fired in connection with Nichols’ death are facing second-degree murder, aggravated kidnapping, official misconduct and other charges after being caught on camera pummeling Nichols after a traffic stop that Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn Davis had labeled “very questionable.”

Memphis was set to release about 20 hours of video and audio related to the dubious traffic stop and fatal beating Wednesday, to compliment bodycam and security footage released in January of the 29-year-old FedEx worker being beaten, pepper sprayed and Tasered by multiple officers, according to Sink.

A screen shot of bodycam video of theincident — Memphis was set to release some 20 hours of new video and audio evidence in connection with the fatal police beating of Tyre Nichols Wednesday.

The city lawyer revealed that an administrative investigation into 13 members of the police department and four members of the fire department was complete.

In addition to the seven fired cops and one retiree, three other police officers were suspended and two had charges against them dismissed. Three fire department personnel members were fired and the other was suspended, Sink said.

A federal civil rights investigation and a probe by Shelby County District Attorney’s Office remained underway.

Previously released footage showed Nichols was pulled over at a red light by cops from a since dismantled controversial street crimes unit.

The officers, who are also black, had guns drawn and pulled Nichols out of the car.

“I didn’t do anything,” the father said, as officers wrestled him to the ground.

A screenshot of the encounter from bodycam footage — A seventh officer was fired in connection with the brutal beating, and another retired amid an internal investigation, officials said Tuesday.

The image from video released on Jan. 27, 2023, by the City of Memphis, shows Tyre Nichols leaning against a car after a brutal attack by five Memphis police officers on Jan. 7, 2023, in Memphis, Tenn. — The officers, who are also black, had guns drawn and pulled Nichols out of the car.

FILE - In this image from video released and partially redacted by the city of Memphis, Tenn., Tyre Nichols lies on the ground during a brutal attack by Memphis Police officers, Jan. 7, 2023, in Memphis. Documents released Thursday, March 2, showed that two Memphis Fire Department emergency medical technicians who were fired and had their licenses suspended for failing to give aid to Nichols for 19 minutes while he struggled with injuries from being brutally beaten by police did not check his vital signs or perform other basic medical examinations. (City of Memphis via AP, File) — The cops beat Nichols for three minutes wherein he was repeatedly punched and kicked while he screamed for his mother.

After an officer is heard calling for Nichols to be Tased, he broke away from their grip and ran from a cop that was firing the electroshock weapon at him.

When the former officers caught up with Nichols, they administered a savage three minute beating in which he was repeatedly punched, kicked and hit with a baton, while he desperately screamed for his mother.

Afterwards, the officers were seen boasting about the attack as Nichols remained handcuffed on the ground, withering in pain, as paramedics milling about appeared to wait 20 minutes before rendering significant aide.

Nichols died three days later.