Uploaded January 2023 | Updated September 2026, 1 day ago
In Memphis, Tennessee, on January 7, 2023, five Black police officers from the Memphis Police Department severely beat 29-year-old Tyre Nichols, a Black man, during a traffic stop. He died three days later in the hospital.[2][3]
The officers stopped Nichols for alleged reckless driving,[a] pulled him from his car, and used pepper spray and a taser on him. Nichols managed to break away. One officer, as other officers pursued Nichols, said "I hope they stomp his ass". When officers caught up with Nichols, they beat him for about three minutes, punching and kicking him in the head and striking him on the back with a baton while he was restrained. In various videos of the incident, Nichols is never seen striking back at the officers.
Nichols was hospitalized in critical condition and died three days later.[6] An autopsy commissioned by his family found "extensive bleeding caused by a severe beating".[7]
The five officers were fired on January 20, and on January 26 they were arrested and charged with murder, kidnapping, assault, and misconduct; two firefighters who were on the ambulance that took Nichols to the hospital were relieved of duty pending an investigation. On January 27, the Memphis Police Department released four clips of edited video showing events between 8:24 p.m. and 9:02 p.m.[8][9]
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the United States Department of Justice both opened investigations.[10] Widespread protests began on January 27.
In Memphis, Tennessee, on January 7, 2023, five Black police officers from the Memphis Police Department severely beat 29-year-old Tyre Nichols, a Black man, during a traffic stop. He died three days later in the hospital.[2][3]
The officers stopped Nichols for alleged reckless driving,[a] pulled him from his car, and used pepper spray and a taser on him. Nichols managed to break away. One officer, as other officers pursued Nichols, said "I hope they stomp his ass". When officers caught up with Nichols, they beat him for about three minutes, punching and kicking him in the head and striking him on the back with a baton while he was restrained. In various videos of the incident, Nichols is never seen striking back at the officers.
Nichols was hospitalized in critical condition and died three days later.[6] An autopsy commissioned by his family found "extensive bleeding caused by a severe beating".[7]
The five officers were fired on January 20, and on January 26 they were arrested and charged with murder, kidnapping, assault, and misconduct; two firefighters who were on the ambulance that took Nichols to the hospital were relieved of duty pending an investigation. On January 27, the Memphis Police Department released four clips of edited video showing events between 8:24 p.m. and 9:02 p.m.[8][9]
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the United States Department of Justice both opened investigations.[10] Widespread protests began on January 27.
