The official autopsy report of Tyre Nichols, a 29-year-old African-American man, confirms that his death was a homicide resulting from blunt force trauma. Nichols died on January 10, 2021, three days after he was beaten by Memphis police officers during a traffic stop. Nichols suffered severe beating, according to an independent autopsy requested by the family’s attorneys. The official autopsy report hasn’t been publicly released yet, but Nichols’ family attorney said that they have been briefed on its contents.
Nichols’ death resulted in nationwide protests and calls for police reform. The incident prompted the firing of six police officers, and five officers, identified as Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills Jr., and Justin Smith, have been charged with offenses, including second-degree murder over Nichols’ death. In addition, Nichols’ family filed a $500 million lawsuit against the city of Memphis, its police department, and several individual officers, alleging negligence and excessive use of force.
Tyre Nichols was brutally beaten by Memphis Police officers after being pulled over on charges of reckless driving. Two officers from MPD’s SCORPION Unit pulled Nichols from his car and dragged him to the ground. A third SCORPION Unit officer arrived as Nichols was being pulled to the ground and held his legs down. After officers yelled conflicting commands at Nichols, he eventually jumped up and began to run away. The officers continued to chase after him, and Nichols was beaten and kicked continually by multiple officers in two separate incidents.
Tyre Nichols’ case is one of the latest in a series of incidents of police brutality against African Americans across the country. The deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor sparked nationwide protests and led to renewed calls for police reform. Recently, the cities of Minneapolis and Louisville settled lawsuits filed by the families of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor respectively, for $27m and $12m in damages.
The autopsy report confirms that Tyre Nichols’ death was a homicide caused by police beating. It is essential that the officers involved are held accountable for their actions. The nationwide protests and calls for police reform are not just for Tyre Nichols alone but for all African Americans who have suffered and continue to suffer at the hands of law enforcement. It is time for law enforcement agencies across the country to recognize the need for reform and take steps towards making policing fair and just for all.
