Seventh Memphis police officer suspended in Tyre Nichols death investigation

Mourners hold a vigil for Tyre Nichols, the Black man who was fatally beaten by Memphis police officers, at a skatepark in the North Natomas neighbourhood near where he grew up, in Sacramento, California, US, January 30, 2023. © Fred Greaves, Reuters

The Memphis Police Department has disciplined two more officers involved in the arrest, beating and death of Tyre Nichols, the department said Monday, widening the circle of punishment for a killing that has already led to the murder indictment of five officers and outraged the nation with another display of police brutality.

Officer Preston Hemphill, who is white, was relieved of duty shortly after Nichols’ Jan. 7 arrest, the department said. Five Black officers were fired and charged last week with second-degree murder and other offenses in Nichols’ beating and Jan. 10 death.