Three former Memphis police officers have been found guilty of various charges related to the brutal beating death of 29-year-old Tyre Nichols, a Black motorist, in January 2023. Nichols was stopped, beaten, and fatally assaulted by members of the now-disbanded Scorpion Unit, with the attack captured on body-cam and surveillance footage.
Although all three officers—Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, and Justin Smith—were cleared of the most serious charge, violating Nichols’ civil rights causing death, they were convicted on lesser charges. Haley was convicted of violating Nichols’ civil rights causing bodily injury, while all three were found guilty of witness tampering for providing false statements during the investigation. These charges carry potential prison sentences of up to 20 years. Sentencing is set for January, and the defendants were taken into custody.
The officers still face state-level charges, including second-degree murder, in Tennessee. Two other officers had already pleaded guilty to civil rights violations and testified against their former colleagues during the trial. The incident, which led to national outrage, renewed calls for police reform across the United States. Nichols’ family, who has been vocal in seeking justice, was supported by public figures, including Vice President Kamala Harris, who attended his funeral.
