Tyre Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man, was beaten to death earlier this month in the United States. Five police officers have been charged with murder in connection with the incident, and the city of Memphis has released a horrifying video of the confrontation.
A day after the policemen were accused of second-degree murder, abuse, kidnapping, perverting the course of justice, and tyranny, footage from their dashboard and body cameras was uploaded on Friday night to the city’s Vimeo page.
Tyre Nichols, 29, is seen being beaten by police in the arrest video from January 7 even though there are no indications that he was resisting.
The “horrific” clip, according to US Vice President Joe Biden, left him “very distressed.”
Attorneys for Mr Nichols’ family compared the attack to the beating that motorist Rodney King received from police in Los Angeles in 1991.
Initially, police claimed that Mr Nichols had been pulled over based on a dangerous driving suspect; however, this claim has not been supported. Three days later, on January 10, he passed away in the hospital.
Both Mr Nichols and the five cops accused in the case are black.
The violent traffic stop and its immediate aftermath were captured in four graphic videos that the Memphis Police Department published on Friday.
In one video, Nichols can be heard screaming, “Damn, I didn’t do anything,” as the police remove him away from the wheel of his vehicle. They force him to the ground and tell him to lie on his stomach while yelling, “I’m just trying to get home. ” They then pepper spray him in the face.
One officer shouts, “Get on the ground,” while another can be heard, “Tase him! Tap him!
Soon after being forced to the ground by force, Nichols responded coolly, “OK, I’m on the ground.” Man, I’m on the ground, Nichols says as the officers keep shouting.
In a different video, a following battle can be seen after the police reappear and begin beating Nichols. As a third police kick him, a fourth strike him with what seems to be a rod, and a fifth officer hits Nichols, two officers are seen holding him down.
After the beating, the police officers stood around talking for a time as Nichols leaned against the car before collapsing to the ground.
Three days after being admitted to the hospital, he passed away from his wounds.
After the altercation on January 7, the five cops were fired from the police force last Saturday.
After the video was released, US police departments also denounced “police brutality” on social media.
The five cops accused of using excessive force in the killing of Nichols—Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Desmond Mills Jr., Emmitt Martin III, and Justin Smith—were fired from their positions following an investigation into an interview.
