Memphis, Tenn. – After-school activities in Memphis were canceled and President Joe Biden on Friday called for peaceful protests before releasing footage of a traffic stop that led to the death of a 29-year-old black driver.
Tyr Nichols, an avid skateboarder and FedEx worker, was pulled over on January 7th. He was hospitalized in critical condition after what police initially described as a “confrontation” with officers and died three days later. Police have released few details about what happened during the stop, but Nichols’ family and their attorneys say video shows officers beating Nichols for several minutes.
Five former officers, who were fired last week, were charged Thursday with second-degree murder and other crimes in connection with Nicole’s death. Nichols’ family and officials including Biden are calling for peaceful protests following the release of the video, expected after the 6 p.m. whistle.
Rowan Wells, Nicholls’ mother, warned the crowd at a candlelight vigil Thursday night that the video was “horrible” and urged supporters to “protest peacefully.”
“I don’t want us to burn down our city, destroy the streets, because my son didn’t stand for it,” she said. “If you guys are here for me and for Tyre, you will protest peacefully. You can have your point but we don’t need to tear down our cities, people, because we have to live in them.
Biden calls for ‘peaceful protests’ before releasing body camera footage
Biden said Nichols’ family deserves a “prompt, full and fair investigation” into his death and called for a “peaceful protest” following the announcement of charges against the five former officers.
“We cannot ignore the fact that fatal encounters with law enforcement affect black and brown people differently,” Biden said.
After-school activities canceled in Memphis
Memphis-Shelby County Schools all after school activities canceled scheduled for Friday “out of an abundance of caution.” School officials said they would monitor the incidents and determine Friday night whether Saturday’s events would be cancelled.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Tire Nichols and those affected by this tragedy in the Mid-South,” school district officials said in a release.
What happened during the traffic stop?
According to a statement from Memphis police, officers pulled Nichols over at approximately 8:30 p.m. on January 7 on suspicion of reckless driving and a “confrontation” ensued. Police said Nichols fled, was arrested, and had another “confrontation”. Police have not clarified what happened during those “confrontations”.
Police said Nichols later “complained of shortness of breath” and was hospitalized in critical condition.
Preliminary findings of an independent autopsy by Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci, attorneys for Nichols’ family, showed that Nichols “suffered extensive bleeding as a result of severe beatings.” said in a joint statement.
Nichols was “kicked” and subjected to “multiple uses of force” during the “adulterated … beating”. [Nichols] For three minutes,” Romanucci said.
Five officers involved were fired, charged with murder
Former officers Taddeus Bean, Demetrius Haley, Justin Smith, Emmitt Martin III and Desmond Mills Jr. have each been charged with second-degree murder, aggravated assault – acting in concert, two counts of aggravated kidnapping, two counts of official misconduct . and one count of official harassment, court records show.
The five men, who are all black, were booked into the Shelby County Jail, and all posted bond Thursday with bonds between $250,000 and $350,000. Mills and Martin will plead not guilty, the lawyers representing them said on Thursday.
Under Tennessee law, second-degree murder is punishable by 15 to 60 years in prison.
A spokeswoman for the fire department said that two Memphis firefighters had also been “relieved of duty” pending an internal investigation of their actions after the stoppage. Memphis Police Chief Cerelin “CJ” Davis, who called the incident “heinous, reckless and inhumane,” said Wednesday More officers are under investigation.
Contributing: Joy Garrison, USA TODAY; The Associated Press
Contact breaking news reporter N’dea Yancey-Bragg at [email protected] or follow her on Twitter @NdeaYanceyBragg
