by Memphis officials released video footage Friday from the traffic stop that resulted in the death of 29-year-old Tire Nichols earlier this month.
Nichols, a 29-year-old black man, died on January 10, three days after Memphis police pulled him over for “reckless driving.”
A “confrontation occurred” between Nichols and the officers when he was stopped around 8:30 p.m. on Jan. 7, according to an initial statement from authorities.
However, “another confrontation” occurred while officers attempted to take Nichols into custody.
“While attempting to take the suspect into custody, another confrontation occurred; However, the suspect was eventually apprehended, the Memphis Police Department said. “The suspect then complained of shortness of breath and an ambulance was called to the scene.”
People attend a candlelight vigil for Tire Nichols, who died after allegedly being beaten by Memphis police officers, in Memphis, TN, Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian via AP)
The Memphis Police Department released four videos, three of which were from an officer’s body camera and one was from a street pole camera and contains no audio. The videos included graphic content and a language disclaimer at viewers’ discretion.
The footage shows the officers pulling up behind Nichols’ car, getting out of the vehicle and ordering Nichols to get out of it while shouting explosives at him.
“I didn’t do anything,” Nichols can be heard saying as the officers pull him out of his car. Nichols calmly told the officers to “stop.”
However, the officers continued to attempt to arrest Nichols, with one officer drawing a taser and aiming it at Nichols.
“Okay, fine,” Nichols said as the officer pointed a taser at him.
“You guys are really doing a lot right now,” says Nichols, who was reportedly just a block away from his mother’s home. “I’m just trying to go home.”
Top left to right: Officer Tadarrius Bean, Tire Nichols and Officer Emmitt Martin III; bottom left to right: officers Justin Smith, Demetrius Haley and Desmond Mills, Jr.
Nichols appears to resist the officers’ command to lie on the ground, prompting an officer to use pepper spray. At one point, Nichols appears to struggle with the officers before running from them as one fires the stun gun.
One of the videos shows the second “altercation” between Nichols and the officers that happened at another intersection. The officers can be seen punching Nichols several times.
An officer then deployed pepper spray, which appeared to make contact with another officer, who walked away from the altercation to regain his vision.
When the pepper-sprayed officer recovers, he turns back to Nichols and says, “Watch out, I’m a baton for you.”
“Give us your hands,” the officer yells as Nichols appears to be covered in blood from the blows.
Protesters march down the street on Friday 27 January 2023 in Memphis, TN, as authorities release police video showing five Memphis officers beating Tyre Nichols, whose death resulted in manslaughter charges and sparked outrage over the nation’s latest case of police brutality. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Nichols could be heard yelling “mommy” during parts of the video.
The Memphis Police Department fired all five officers last week, and a grand jury returned a multi-count indictment Thursday against each officer on various charges, including second-degree murder.
Former officers Demetrius Haley, Tadarrius Bean, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills and Justin Smith, all of whom are black, joined the Memphis Police Department between 2017 and 2020, according to New York Times.
Nichols’ mother, RowVaughn Wells, warned Memphis residents against violent protests ahead of the video’s release.
“When that tape comes out tomorrow, it’s going to be terrible. I didn’t see it, but from what I hear, it’s going to be horrible. But I want each and every one of you to protest in peace. I don’t want our city burning, tearing up the streets, Wells said. “Because that’s not what my son stood for. And if you are here for me and Tyr, then you will protest peacefully.”
***WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT***
Jordan Dixon-Hamilton is a reporter for Breitbart News. Write to him at [email protected] or follow him further Twitter.
