Tyre Nichols was a black man who was 29 years old. He died on January 10, 2023, three days after five Memphis police officers beat him badly during a traffic stop. His death caused anger and protests in the city and across the country another example of police abuse against people of color.
Tyre Nichols Cause of Death
The beating did a lot of damage to Nichols. He had a lot of blood because of a blow to the head, and he also had several broken bones and cuts. When the doctors got there, he was out and not making any sounds. But it took the doctors 16 minutes to look at Nichols or help him after they arrived.
They didn’t check his heartbeat, give him air, or do CPR. Also, he wasn’t taken to the hospital until 23 minutes after they got there. Nichols was taken to the hospital in very bad shape. He never woke up again, and he died on January 10.
The reason for death was found to be blunt force trauma to the head, which was caused by a crime.
Brett R. posted a deep message about Tyree Nichols Death:
I’m a pro police, MAGA Conservative, I don’t care what Tyree Nichols was accused of doing, whether he complied with officer demands or not. he didn’t deserve to be beat to death by five thugs on a Memphis Street😪🙏🏻
— Brett R (@brettRo32013157) January 29, 2023
Who was Tyre Nichols?
Tyre Deandre Nichols was a 29-year-old black guy who was born on June 5, 1993, and died on January 10, 2023. Nichols was a hobby photographer who had a website and worked for FedEx.
Nichols was born in Sacramento, California, and grew up there. In 2020, he moved to Memphis. RowVaughn Wells is the name of his mom. His family’s lawyer said that Nichols was “almost impossibly thin” because he had Crohn’s disease. He was 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighed 145 pounds (66 kilograms).
The Traffic Stop and the Confrontation
On January 7, around 8:30 p.m., Nichols was driving his car in Memphis when he was stopped by police from the SCORPION unit, a special team that looks for violent crime. The cops say they pulled Nichols over because they thought he was driving carelessly, but they haven’t shown any proof to back up this claim.
When the police tried to pull Nichols out of his car, they got into a fight with him. Nichols was pepper-sprayed and tased by the police, but he was able to get away and run to his mother’s house, which was less than a mile away.
Five black cops gave chase and caught up with him near his house. They hit him with punches, kicks, pepper spray, and a stick. A nearby camera on a pole and the cops’ body cameras both caught the attack on video.
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The Investigation and the Charges
The Memphis Police Department (MPD) started a probe inside the department to find out what happened. The acts of the officers were called “heinous” and “inhumane” by the MPD Police Chief, Carolyn J. Davis. She said that the traffic stop and the use of force against Nichols were not justified.
She also said that the officers broke a number of the department’s rules and standards. Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills Jr., and Justin Smith were named as the five cops who were said to have hurt Nichols.
They were no longer part of the MPD as of January 8. On January 26, they were caught and charged with second-degree murder, kidnapping, assault, official misconduct, and official oppression. All of them have said they are not guilty.
Thirteen cops have been disciplined, taken off the job, fired, or arrested for their actions by the MPD. Three employees at Memphis Fire Services were fired because they didn’t assess or help Nichols.
A sixth Memphis police officer has been fired over the violent death of Tyree Nichols. pic.twitter.com/cUAxClyiwC
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) February 4, 2023
The Protests and the Demands
When the videos of the incident were made public on January 27, Memphis and other places saw a lot of protests. People marched through the streets shouting “Justice for Tyre” and “Black Lives Matter” They asked the cops and the justice system to be responsible and honest.
They also said that police violence and racism against people of color should stop. Some of the things the protesters want are:
- All uncut footage from the event should be made public.
Putting the case in the hands of a private prosecutor - Setting up a citizen review board to look into police wrongdoing
- Changes to how cops are trained and how they use force
More money will be given to mental health and social programs. - Tyre Nichols’s life and memory are being honored.
Conclusion
Tyre Nichols’s death is a sad warning that black people in America have to deal with systemic violence from police. His story has caused people all over the country to talk about police accountability and change. His family and friends hope that his death will not be in vain and will lead to real change and justice.
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