by Four harrowing videos released by the city of Memphis late Friday show the brutal and ultimately fatal assault on 29-year-old Tire Nichols, who was pulled over during a traffic stop on January 7 and died three days later.
Here are some critical moments from that deadly encounter.
The video is available here. Warning: Shows graphic violence that could be disturbing.
8:24 pm Officers conduct a traffic stop and take Nichols into custody.
“Get the f— out of the f—-ing car!” an officer is heard yelling as he pulls Nichols out of his car.
“I didn’t do anything,” Nichols replies.
A fight ensues, with an officer yelling “Get down!”.
“Okay, I’m on the ground!” says Nichols.
Police had said they pulled over Nichols for reckless driving, but Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn “CJ” Davis said Friday morning that an investigation and review of available camera footage found “no evidence.” of that.
The officers are seen pinning Nichols to the ground on his side while grabbing his arms and giving him conflicting orders.
“You guys are really doing a lot right now,” Nichols is heard saying during the meeting. “I’m just trying to go home!”
8:25 p.m. Nichols is pepper sprayed and tries to flee during a stun gun attempt
The officers pursue Nichols on foot after he flees as the officers attempt to use a stun gun on him. They call for backup, who arrive around 8:29 p.m. and give chase to Nichols.
20:29 Reinforcement arrives
Two police cars arrive at the intersection where Nichols was initially stopped when officers ask for his location. An officer can be heard on the radio saying that Nichols has been seen running on foot.
8:32 p.m. Officers re-arrest Nichols
Nichols is repeatedly pepper-sprayed during his second encounter with the officers.
“Shut up!” an officer yells at Nichols.
Two officers are seen on top of Nichols, who is lying on the pavement.
“Give me your hands!” officers tell Nichols.
Nichols appears to shield his face as the officers start beating and slapping him.
“Do you want to get sprayed again?” an officer tells Nichols.
Nichols yells, “Mom!” repeatedly. Police caught up with Nichols in a neighborhood, less than 80 yards, her mother said, from her home.
The officers again ask Nichols to shake hands. “Okay, okay,” he replies, appearing to move his hands behind his back.
The officers continue to pepper spray Nichols directly in the eyes as he lies on the ground. They are heard complaining that the chemical spray got into their eyes as well.
20:34 Nichols is kicked in the head and hit with batons
At least one officer is seen kicking Nichols in the head while he is pinned on his side on the pavement.
The officers place Nichols upright and pin his hands behind him. The officers repeatedly hit Nichols over the head, causing him to stagger, and beat him with batons.
8:41 pm Medics arrive on scene but offer no help.
Nichols is sitting handcuffed on the pavement.
two doctors leaning Nichols’s crumpled body against the unmarked police car. Nichols is conscious but visibly injured. Medical staff they are seen standing near Nichols, but are unhelpful at this point.
The two fire department employees responsible for the initial care of Nichols’ patient were later relieved of their duties.
During this time, the officers are standing around the scene and discussing the violent arrest.
“I hit that man with so many pieces,” an officer tells the group.
At least two officers are heard claiming that Nichols tried to grab one of his weapons. Body camera footage reviewed by NBC News showed no indication that Nichols had reached for his gun. Authorities also did not confirm this account.
An officer claims that during the initial traffic stop, he repeatedly tried to get Nichols to stop driving.
“That man drove, he swerved like he was going to hit my car. So I thought, dammit, what are we doing?” says the officer.
“Stopped at red light, stopped at red light, turned turn signal on,” adds the officer.
The officer said he jumped out of his car and “the shit went out of there.”
Several minutes later, the two doctors begin tending to Nichols. EMS and EMT ambulances are also seen arriving at the scene.
The consequences
Nichols was hospitalized in critical condition after the encounter and died three days later.
Five officers involved in the case, Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills Jr. and Justin Smith, were fired after an administrative investigation found they had violated the department’s use of force policy.
The fired officers, all members of the department’s Scorpion unit, were charged Thursday with second-degree murder, two counts of official misconduct, two counts of aggravated kidnapping, one count of official oppression and one count of aggravated assault.
At a news conference Friday, Nichols’ family and attorneys praised the speedy charges and investigation.
“We saw how quickly the district attorney filed charges against them in less than 20 days. Then we want to proclaim that this is the model to follow any time any officer, whether black or white, is held accountable,” Crump said.
All five were released from jail after posting bail. Bean, Mills and Smith posted $250,000 bond; Haley and Martin posted $350,000 bail.
They will be arraigned together on February 17, according to court records.
On Saturday, the Memphis Police Department permanently disabled Scorpion, which stands for Operation Street Crimes to Restore Peace to Our Neighborhoods. The unit was launched in November 2021 as the city’s homicide rate was skyrocketing and the community was calling for action.
“In the process of listening carefully to the family of Tire Nichols, community leaders and uninvolved officers who have done a quality job on their assignment, it is in everyone’s best interest to permanently deactivate the SCORPION Unit,” the department said in a statement. communicated on Saturday.
According to the statement, “officers currently assigned to the unit wholeheartedly agree with this next step. While the heinous actions of a few cast a cloud of dishonor over the SCORPION title, it is imperative that we, the Memphis Police Department, take proactive steps in the healing process for all affected.”
