Editor’s note: This article contains graphic videos and descriptions of violence.
CNN
—
When protesters gathered in US cities over weekend after the Memphis police beating that led to death of 29-year-old Tyre Nichols, officials said an investigation into the incident will continue amid questions over may there be additional costs.
The aftermath of the collision on 7 January was relatively swift. The five Memphis officers involved were fired and charged. with murder and kidnapping in Nichols death and the police unit they were part of of was disbanded.
While the investigation continues, Nichols family attorney Ben Crump said he thought there would be additional repercussions, but “would it lead to criminal accusations, we have to see.”
Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy said he could not comment on could there be further charges but “we did nothing last Thursday regarding charges rules out us from bringing other charges later.”
“We are going to need time allow investigation go forward and further consideration of allegations,” Mulroy told CNN Sunday.
Mulroy called the indictment “unprecedented” against officers in just question of weeks after fatal confrontation.
Officials knew they were releasing videos without accusations for officers could be “incendiary,” Mulroy said. ” best the solution was to expedite the investigation and expedite the consideration of charges so charges can come first and then release of video, he added.
video of meeting is hard to watch. it begins with stop traffic and go on to show officers repeatedly beat Nichols with clubs, hitting him with punches and kicks, including in one point while his hands are tied behind his back.
He was left fell on the ground in handcuffed, and 23 minutes elapsed before a stretcher arrived at the scene. Nichols was eventually hospitalized and died three days later.
“Everybody of these officers failed my oath,” Crump told CNN. on Sunday. “They are failed their oath to protect and serve. Look at this video: Has anyone tried to protect and serve Tyra Nichols?”
How the makeshift memorial grew on in corner where Nichols was beaten, marching protesters in in many cities – from New York to Atlanta, Boston and Los Angeles – there were signs with the name of in young Black man, who The country has heard the call for his mother when he was kicked, beaten and sprayed with pepper spray.
Nichols family now in the center of unfamiliar media attention, remember it as good son and father who loved to ride a skateboard, take pictures and watch sunsets. They remembered his smile and hugs and mourned the moments they would never have. again.
They are also promised to “continue to say his name until justice served.”
All five officers have been charged in Beating Nichols – who are also Blacks were members of Memphis police spokesman Major Karen Rudolph told CNN on Saturday. Installation running in 2021, send officers to areas where police have been monitoring tick outbreaks. in cruel crime.
memphis police announced Saturday that he would permanently disable the device, stating that “while nefarious acts of somewhat casts off the cloud of dishonor on name SCORPION, it is imperative that we, the Memphis Police Department, take proactive action. steps in healing process for everything is affected.”
“It’s reprehensible behavior we’ve seen in this video we think it was part of of culture of SCORPION unit,” Crump said. “So we demanded that they disband immediately before we see anything like this happened again”.
“It was the culture just as guilty for killing Terry Nichols as these officers,” Crump said.
Memphis City Council member Frank Colvett said that disbanding the unit was the right thing to do. move.
“I think smart move and the mayor is right in close it down. These species of actions are not representative of Memphis Police Department, Colvett said.
Memphis City Council Member Michalin Easter-Thomas also appreciated move and said the case should give in city a chance “dig deeper” community and relations with the police.
“We saw a very peaceful and direct meaning of protest in in city of Memphis, and I think it’s because maybe we believe and hope that system this time it will work out,” Easter-Thomas said.
Officers indicted in meeting with Nichols – Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Justin Smith, Emmit Martin and Desmond Mills Jr. – are expected to be charged. on February 17. They are face accusations of second-degree murder and aggravated kidnapping, among others.
Advocate for one of the accused officers, Mills Jr., put out a Friday night statement saying he did not cross a line “that others have crossed” during the standoff. Attorney Blake Ballin told CNN that Mills was “the victim.” of in system he worked inside.
Meanwhile, the consequences also stretched to other agencies.
Two Memphis firefighters who were part of Nichols’ initial departure was eased of duty awaiting result of internal investigation. And two deputies with The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office was placed in on leave pending investigation.
Crump called on Congress in pass Judge George Floyd in Police Act passed by the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives. in 2021, but not an evenly divided Senate.
Black congressional caucus demands meeting with President Joe Biden will push this week for negotiation on police reform, wrote assembly chairman Stephen Horsford in a news release on Sunday.
“Brutal beating of Sheena Nichols was murder and is a grim reminder of what is yet to come way go in solution to systemic police violence in America,” he wrote.
Gloria Sweet-Love, president of the NAACP at the Tennessee State Conference, applauded Memphis Police Chief Davis. for “do the right thing” without waiting six months before year to fire officers who beat up Sheena Nichols.
She didn’t get an applause for congress, who she called for action, saying: “Failing to create and pass bills to stop police brutality, you writing an obituary for another black man. Blood of Black America on your hands. So stop up and do something.”
At the state level, two state Democrats in On Saturday, Tennessee said it intends to file police reform legislation early. of Tennessee general The deadline for submitting documents is Tuesday. Bills to address mental health issue for law enforcement officers, recruitment, training, practice discipline and other topics, said Rep. G.A. hardaway, who is part of of Memphis and Shelby County.
As long as the Democrats are in the minority with 24 representatives over the Republican majority of 99 Rep., Rep. Joe Towns Jr. said the legislation is not biased and should pass on both sides of Legislature.
“You’ll hard-Clicked to watch this videoof Tire Nichols) and see what happened to that young man, well, and not want to do something. If dog in this county was beaten like what the hell is going to happen?” Townes said.
