5 cops in Memphis, Tennessee, have been charged with second-degree homicide in Nichols’s loss of life in January.
An post-mortem report launched in the US has proven that Tyre Nichols died of blunt power accidents to the pinnacle after he was crushed by police in Memphis, Tennessee, throughout a January arrest.
The post-mortem stated the way of loss of life was murder. The report launched by the health worker in Memphis described a number of contusions, mind accidents, cuts and bruises to the pinnacle and different elements of the physique.
Nichols was Black, as had been the 5 cops fired and charged with second-degree homicide and different counts after his loss of life. They pleaded not responsible on February 17.
Ben Crump, a lawyer for the Nichols household, stated they had been briefed on Wednesday on the post-mortem report by the district lawyer in Shelby County, Tennessee, which incorporates Memphis.
“The official post-mortem report additional propels our dedication to in search of justice for this mindless tragedy,” an announcement launched by Crump’s regulation agency stated.
Nichols was stopped by police on January 7 for an alleged visitors violation and was aggressively pulled out of his automobile by officers. An officer shot at Nichols with a stun gun, however Nichols ran away, in direction of his close by dwelling, in keeping with video footage launched by town of Memphis and different police data.
Officers who had been a part of a crime-suppression staff generally known as Scorpion caught up with Nichols and punched him, kicked him and slugged him with a baton as he yelled for his mom.
After the beating, officers stood by and talked with each other as Nichols struggled together with his accidents whereas he was on the bottom, video confirmed. One officer additionally took pictures of Nichols as he was propped up in opposition to an unmarked police automobile, video and different data confirmed.
Nichols was taken to a hospital in an ambulance that left the location of the beating 27 minutes after emergency medical technicians arrived, authorities stated.
Nichols, 29, died three days later. His funeral was held on February 1.
Police stated Nichols had been suspected of reckless driving, however no verified proof of a visitors violation has emerged in public paperwork or video footage. Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn “CJ” Davis stated she had seen no proof justifying the cease or the officers’ response. She disbanded the Scorpion unit after Nichols’s loss of life.
In keeping with the post-mortem, ethanol — or ingesting alcohol — and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) had been detected in Nichols’s system. THC is present in marijuana.
The concentrations of alcohol and THC detected had been low, stated Dr Andrew Stolbach, a medical toxicologist with Johns Hopkins Drugs who reviewed the post-mortem report on the request of The Related Press.
The alcohol degree is “about equal to a drink or two”, Stolbach stated. “It’s a degree that lots of people would have after ingesting socially, folks able to driving dwelling legally.”
Along with the 5 Black officers fired and charged with homicide, one white officer concerned within the preliminary visitors cease has been fired. That officer is not going to face costs for his function in Nichols’s loss of life. One other officer who has not been recognized additionally has been fired. A further officer retired earlier than he may very well be fired.
Three Memphis Fireplace Division staff who had been on the web site of the arrest have been fired. Two Shelby County sheriff’s deputies who additionally had been there have been suspended.
Nichols’s household, their attorneys, group leaders and activists have known as for modifications inside the Memphis Police Division regarding points associated to visitors stops, use of power, enhancing transparency and different insurance policies.
Town council has handed an ordinance ending visitors stops based mostly solely on a single secondary violation, akin to an improperly positioned license tag.
Nichols’s mom has filed a $550m federal lawsuit in opposition to town, the police division and Davis. Town has declined touch upon the lawsuit.
