Home WebMail Friday, November 1, 2024, 06:34 AM | Calgary | -3.8°C | Regions Advertise Login | Our platform is in maintenance mode. Some URLs may not be available. |
Posted: 2023-01-26T18:12:50Z | Updated: 2023-01-27T20:57:59Z

Five now-fired Memphis police officers were charged with second-degree murder on Thursday after the group was accused of severely beating Black driver Tyre Nichols, who later died in custody.

Police pulled over the 29-year-old father for a traffic stop on Jan. 7. Nichols family said he then fled the scene, fearing for his life, before the five officers caught up to him and beat him for three minutes. The Memphis Police Department identified the officers as Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmit Martin III, Desmond Mills Jr. and Justin Smith.

A grand jury has indicted the officers on charges that include two counts of official misconduct, one count of official oppression, one count of second-degree murder, one count of aggravated assault and two counts of aggravated kidnapping, according to Shelby County court records.

All five officers were held in Shelby County jail, and two were released on bond Thursday.

Nichols family and its lawyers were given a chance to see body camera footage before it was released to the public. According to family attorney Antonio Romanucci, the video showed the officers using pepper spray, a stun gun and restraint tactics on Nichols, who was eventually taken to a hospital. He died on Jan. 10.

Officials said they will release the video footage to the public on Friday evening . In a statement released on Thursday, President Joe Biden encouraged holding law enforcement accountable through peaceful protests, which Memphis officials are anticipating after the release of the video.