Tyre Nichols.Photo: Adrian Sainz/AP/Shutterstock
Content warning: This article contains disturbing descriptions of violence.
A sixth officer who was involved in the confrontation with 29-year-oldTyre Nicholshas been relieved of duty from the Memphis Police Department, according to multiple reports.
Fox 13 Memphisreports that Preston Hemphil, who is white, is the officer who has been relieved of duty — which is different from being fired — but it is unclear what led to Hemphil’s relief of duty or if he will be charged in connection with Nichols' beating and subsequent death.
Preston Hemphill.Memphis Police Department
The Memphis Police Department said Hemphil is under investigation and new information will be released as it becomes available,WREGreports. Hemphil’s role in the incident was not disclosed.
Five now-fired Memphis officers, who are Black — Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills Jr. and Justin Smith — have been charged in connection with Nichols' death.
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From left, officers Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills, Jr. and Justin Smith.Memphis Police Department (4)
Nichols was pulled over for alleged reckless driving on Jan. 7 around 8:30 p.m., and following the traffic stop, Memphis police say Nichols fled on foot and more than one “confrontation” ensued.
Indisturbing video footagereleased on Friday, multiple officers are seen beating Nichols for approximately three minutes. When he collapses to the ground, officers continue punching him in the head. Officers also used a taser and pepper spray on Nichols. After the fight, Nichols is slumped against a vehicle. He was transported to the hospital and died three days later.
Astatementfrom Benjamin Crump and Antonio Romanucci, two attorneys representing Nichols' family, says a preliminary autopsy shows he experienced “extensive bleeding.” The statement also says police “brutalized him to the point he was unrecognizable.”
During a Friday press conference, Crump said that during the police encounter, Nicholscried out for his mother.
“He calls out three times for his mother, his last words on this earth are ‘Mom, Mom, Mom,’ he’s screaming for her,” said Crump. “He said, ‘I just wanna go home.’ "
Nichols' mother said during the press conference that she has not watched the footage.
“But what I’ve heard is very horrific, very horrific and any of you who have children please don’t let them see it,” she said.
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source: people.com
