Relatives allege Tyre Nichols died from a Memphis police beating. The US Justice Department has opened a civil rights investigation into the incident.
Nichols was arrested after officers stopped him for reckless driving, police said. There was a confrontation as officers approached the driver, and he ran before he was confronted again by the pursuing officers, who arrested him, authorities said.
He complained of shortness of breath and was hospitalized. Officials said a cause of death has not yet been determined.The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the state's police agency, said Nichols died Jan. 10. The agency is conducting a use-of-force investigation at the request of Shelby County District Attorney General Steve Mulroy. Relatives have said that the officers who pulled over Nichols were in an unmarked vehicle and that he experienced cardiac arrest and kidney failure because of a beating by officers. Memphis Police Director Cerelyn "CJ" Davis said Sunday that the department was serving notice to the officers involved concerning policy violations. The statement did not indicate how many officers were involved. Davis and Mayor Jim Strickland said Tuesday that video footage of the arrest will be released after the police department's investigation is completed and the family can review it. The police department's internal investigation will be completed by the end of this week, and city leaders are arranging a meeting early next week with the family of Nichols, according to a joint statement from both Strickland and Davis. After initially declining comment on the Justice Department's investigation, the city of Memphis sent out a statement late Wednesday afternoon saying it will fully cooperate with the federal agencies conducting the probe. Memphis' police department did not immediately reply to a request for comment. At a memorial service for Nichols on Tuesday, family and friends remembered him as a joyful, lovable man who worked making boxes at FedEx, enjoyed skateboarding and regularly drank coffee and chatted with friends at Starbucks. Some of those in attendance wore T-shirts that read "Justice for Tyre," and "Skate in Peace." Relatives said Nichols was from California and moved to Memphis about a year ago. He had two brothers and a sister, relatives said. Nichols' stepfather, Rodney Wells, said during the service that Nichols' supporters want the officers involved in the arrest to be charged with first-degree murder.Copyright © 2023 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
Please follow us on Google to support usUnited States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News: You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Memphis officials say video in Tyre Nichols case will be released after the investigation concludesVideo from the traffic stop that sent a Memphis man to the hospital won't be released until an internal investigation concludes, city officials say after a weekend of protest from the man's family.
Read more »
Memphis will release footage of incident related to Tyre Nichols' death, officials sayThe city of Memphis said that it will release footage related to the death of Tyre Nichols after the Memphis Police Department finishes its own internal investigation related to his death, which occurred after multiple 'confrontations' with officers.
Read more »
Feds Open Investigation Into Traffic-Stop Death of Memphis’ Tyre NicholsNichols, a 29-year-old Black man, died of unspecified injuries after two “confrontations” occurred during the stop by Tennessee police earlier this month.
Read more »
Civil rights investigation opened in death of Tennessee man who died after police traffic stopFederal investigators said Wednesday a civil rights investigation has been opened into the death of a 29-year-old man who died three days after being stopped by Memphis police.
Read more »
Tyre Nichols: DOJ investigates Memphis man's arrest, deathNichols died days after a confrontation with Memphis Department Police Officers during a traffic stop.
Read more »
Federal investigators open civil rights probe into death of Memphis man after traffic stopFederal authorities announced Wednesday they are launching a civil rights investigation into the actions of Memphis police after a 29-year-old Black man died three days after a traffic stop by officers.
Read more »