Three former Memphis police officers are currently on trial for their involvement in the beating death of Tyre Nichols, a 29-year-old motorist, following a traffic stop in January 2023. The officers, Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, and Justin Smith, are facing charges of excessive force and failure to intervene, as well as obstruction of justice through witness tampering.
During the federal trial, Lt. Larnce Wright testified that the officers did not comply with departmental training policies when they punched, kicked, and hit Nichols with a baton. Wright, who trained the officers, stated that the use of force was not necessary to bring Nichols into custody and that softer tactics should have been employed.
Prosecutors presented footage from police pole cameras and body-worn cameras showing the violent encounter, where officers can be heard giving orders to Nichols and using threatening language. Wright emphasized that the officers should have intervened to stop the beating and that their actions were not in line with proper training protocols.
Nichols, who was Black, died three days after the incident from injuries sustained during the beating. An autopsy report confirmed that the manner of death was homicide, attributing it to blows to the head and other injuries. The five officers involved, all members of the disbanded Scorpion Unit crime suppression team, were subsequently fired for violating department policies.
RowVaughn Wells, Nichols' mother, expressed her desire for justice and for her son to be portrayed accurately, stating that he was not the criminal he was being made out to be. The trial is ongoing, with two former officers who pleaded guilty expected to testify for the prosecution.
The case has sparked outrage and calls for accountability within the Memphis Police Department, as the community grapples with the tragic loss of Tyre Nichols and the actions of those sworn to protect and serve.
