Three former police officers were found not guilty by a U.S. jury in the contentious beating death of Tyre Nichols, a 29-year-old father who died during a traffic stop in Memphis, Tennessee.
Former policemen Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, and Justin Smith were found not guilty on Wednesday in a state-level case including allegations of official misconduct, official oppression, aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping, and second-degree murder.
Following federal charges for Nichols’s killing, this was their second criminal trial. In that instance, the three cops were found guilty of witness tampering for allegedly trying to conceal the beating. Still, they were also exonerated of the most serious allegations against them.
The Nichols murder occurred on January 7, 2023, and involved a total of five police officers. The discussion about excessive policing of Black communities and police brutality was rekindled after Nichols’ death, as footage of the beating went viral online.
The SCORPION team, a now-defunct squad that targeted suspected crime hotspots in the city, was comprised of the five police officers who participated in the beating. It was dissolved as a result of the outrage following Nichols’ passing. Prosecutors have questioned the reason behind Nichols’ alleged reckless driving on the day of his murder, pointing out that police body cams provide no proof of misconduct.
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