Tyre Nichols
Tyre Nichols was beaten to death by five Memphis police officers after a traffic stop. Body camera footage showed a prolonged assault. Three officers were convicted of federal civil rights violations.
On January 7, 2023, Tyre Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man, was stopped by Memphis police during a traffic stop. Officers pulled him from his car and attempted to detain him. Nichols ran.
Body camera footage showed five officers—all Black members of the SCORPION unit—punching, kicking, and beating Nichols with a baton after catching him near his home. He called out for his mother.
Nichols died three days later from his injuries. The footage, released on January 27, triggered nationwide protests. The SCORPION unit was permanently disbanded.
Five officers were fired and charged federally. In 2024, three were convicted of witness tampering and federal civil rights violations. Two others pleaded guilty.
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