Tyre Nichols latest news: Memphis police accused of ‘shielding’ white officer as 7th ousted for killing


Protesters march in Memphis after video released of Tyre Nichols being beaten by police

The Memphis Police Department has been accused of “shielding” the only known white officer involved in Tyre Nichols’ arrest, as it was revealed two more officers were placed on leave in connection with the man’s death at the hands of police.

Lawyers for the Nichols family denounced the Memphis police for allegedly giving special treatment to a white official by placing him on leave despite his involvement.

It comes as Memphis police disclosed that seven of its officers, including five Black officers who have already been charged over Nichols’ death, had been relieved of duty.

The sixth officer, identified as Preston Hemphill, who is white, was suspended with pay pending a hearing, and a seventh officer who was not immediately identified was relieved of duty without pay, police said.

Nichols’ parents – RowVaughn Wells and Rodney Wells – have accepted an invitation from the Congressional Black Caucus to attend Joe Biden’s State of the Union address next week.

Nichols, 29, was pulled over for a traffic stop in Memphis on 7 January. He died three days later in hospital.

Footage of the fatal encounter was released on Friday, capturing Nichols being punched, kicked and beaten with batons.

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Memphis police accused of ‘shielding’ white officer involved in Tyre Nichols beating

The only known white officer involved in the brutal beating and subsequent death of Tyre Nichols was “shielded and protected” by Memphis Police Department, attorneys for the family said.

“The news today from Memphis officials that officer Preston Hemphill was reportedly relieved of duty weeks ago, but not yet terminated or charged is extremely disappointing,” they said in a joint statement.

Shweta Sharma31 January 2023 05:57

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Skatepark vigil planned for Tyre Nichols in Sacramento

A skatepark in Sacramento that Tyre Nichols visited regularly said it planned to hold a vigil for him at 6:30pm PST.

Mr Nichols was a regular at the park before he moved to Memphis in 2020.

Niko Chapman, who grew up in the area, remembered Mr Nichols fondly. He recalled to Fox 2 how, when he was younger, his parents would only let him visit the skatepark if they knew Mr Nichols was there to help look out for him.

“You remember people that are really kind to you, and Tyre was just a really kind person,” Mr Chapman said. “He just always made me feel really welcome.”

Graig Graziosi31 January 2023 07:00

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Memphis police gave Tyre Nichols 71 commands over the course of 13 minutes, analysis claims

A video analysis conducted by The New York Times found that Memphis police officers gave Tyre Nichols 71 commands over the course of 13 minutes after they stopped his vehicle.

As noted by the analysis, some of the commands given to Mr Nichols were confusing and contradictory. In other instances the officers demanded Mr Nichols comply with demands that he already had complied with, such as “getting on the ground” while he was already on the ground.

The bodycam footage of the arrest appears to show Memphis officers using Mr Nichols inability to follow the string of vague and sometimes impossible commands to justify escalating their response tactics.

Graig Graziosi31 January 2023 06:00

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Daughter of Black man killed by police in 2014 says Tyre Nichols’ death echoes what happened to father

The daughter of a Black man killed by police back in 2014 has said that Tyre Nichols’ death echoes what happened to her own father.

Emerald Garner, whose father was choked to death by a police officer in New York in 2014, spoke to NewsNation on Friday following the release of the footage of Nichols’ brutal beating at the hands of law enforcement in Memphis earlier this month.

“It’s a replay of what happened eight years ago, almost nine…. to my father,” she said. “It’s ridiculous.”

Ms Garner pointed out differences in the handling of the two cases.

Memphis officials fired the five officers and charged them with Nichols’ murder while NYPD officer Daniel Pantaleo was not charged and stayed on the force until 2019.

“If we would have had that in 2014, would there have been a Tyre Nichols today? I don’t think so,” she said.

Graig Graziosi31 January 2023 04:59

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ICYMI: Tyre Nichols’ parents to attend State of the Union

The parents of Tyre Nichols will attend Joe Biden’s State of the Union address next week, according to reports.

After accepting an invitation from the Congressional Black Caucus, Nichols’s mother and father – RowVaughn Wells and Rodney Wells – will attend the president’s address.

Chairperson of the caucus, Steven Horsford, said he spoke with Nichols’ parents “to first extend our condolences to them, to let them know that we stand with them, to ask them what they want from us at this moment”.

Read the full story here:

Graig Graziosi31 January 2023 04:00

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Just like George Floyd, Tyre Nichols called out for mother during violent police arrest

They are later seen bragging about punching him, in footage packed with expletives.

“I was hitting him with straight haymakers, dog” says one officer.

Another is heard to say: “I jumped in, started rocking him.”

Andrew Buncombe has the story.

Graig Graziosi31 January 2023 03:00

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Tyre Nichols six-word plea revealed as distressing footage lays bare Memphis police brutality

Family members, city leaders, and activists harshly criticised the conduct of the officers shown in the footage, five of whom have been fired and charged with murder.

The first part of the hour-long video showed the officers pulling over the young man, forcing him out of the vehicle and onto the floor.

One of them is heard to say: “B**ch put your hands behind your back before I break them.” An officer then threatens Nichols that “I’m going to knock your ass the f**k out.”

Read the full story by Josh Marcus and Graeme Massie here:

Graig Graziosi31 January 2023 02:00

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Eric Garner’s daughter hits out at Memphis officials’ release of Tyre Nichols’ footage

The daughter of Eric Garner has hit out at Memphis officials over the release of the footage of Tyre Nichols’ brutal beating at the hands of law enforcement.

Emerald Garner told NewsNation that the footage was shared like “a premiere of the movie”, saying that law enforcement’s handling of the video was another example of “just how they do things”.

“The fact that we waited for this video to be released like it was an exclusive movie that needed to be premiered on a certain day, it really boils my blood. It’s just heart-wrenching,” she said.

She added: “Tonight was a direct show of just how they do things. You held the video. Why? Why couldn’t the family get their closure at the moment that they needed it? It had to be controlled by this system.

“You held it like it was a premiere of a movie that needed to be watched by the world – a public lynching.”

Ms Garner, whose father was killed by police in New York in 2014, spoke out hours after the footage of Nichols’ deadly arrest was released to the public.

Graig Graziosi31 January 2023 01:00

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ICYMI: Trump speaks out on Tyre Nichols killing: ‘Never should have happened’

Former president made comments at a campaign event in South Carolina.

Graig Graziosi31 January 2023 00:00

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Memphis Fire Department members fired over Tyre Nichols response

An EMT and ambulance driver responding to Tyre Nichols after he was beaten by police have been fired, according to the Memphis Fire Department.

EMT-Basic Robert Long, EMT-Advanced JaMichael Sandrige, and driver, Lieutenant Michelle Whitaker have reportedly been terminated, per the department’s chief Gina Sweat.

“Our investigation has concluded that the two EMTs responded based on the initial nature of the call [person pepper sprayed] and information they were told on the scene and failed to conduct an adequate patient assessment of Mr Nichols. After their initial interaction with Mr Nichols, they requested an ambulance to respond. Emergency Unit 28 was dispatched at 8:46 p.m., arrived on the scene at 8:55 p.m., initiated patient care, and transported Mr Nichols to St. Francis Hospital at 9:08 p.m.,” Ms Sweat said in a news release.

Graig Graziosi30 January 2023 23:17



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