A Tennessee jury on Wednesday acquitted three former Memphis police officers in the killing of Tyre Nichols, whose violent death had ignited protests nationwide in early 2023.
Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, and Justin Smith were found not guilty of second-degree murder and other state charges. Judge James Jones Jr. ordered their immediate release, prompting emotional embraces between the men and their attorneys inside the courtroom.
Nichols, a FedEx worker and aspiring photographer, had been pulled over around 8:24 p.m. on January 7th, 2023, for what officers claimed was reckless driving. “Get the f**k out the f**king car!” one officer shouted as they dragged him from his vehicle. “I didn’t do anything,” Nichols replied.
Body camera footage later showed officers using pepper spray and a Taser on Nichols, who fled on foot toward his mother’s home. They caught him just 80 yards from her door. In a second encounter, Nichols was beaten and kicked while enduring more pepper spray. He screamed “Mom!” as the assault escalated.
A police training officer testified that the force used was “unnecessary” and “excessive.” Prosecutors described the beating as a so-called “street tax” or “run tax,” a brutal consequence inflicted on fleeing suspects.
Nichols died three days later, triggering national outrage and bringing his parents to President Biden’s State of the Union as honored guests.
Although acquitted on state charges, the officers had previously been convicted on related federal offenses.
