Overview: Tyre Nichols, a 29-year-old father and son, died in 2023 after being severely beaten, tased, and pepper sprayed by five Black Memphis police officers during a traffic stop. Three of the five former officers were found guilty of federal felonies related to the death of Nichols on Oct. 3. The officers were charged with second-degree murder, kidnapping, and other offenses, and three of them were found guilty of obstruction of justice and witness tampering. The case has reignited the conversation around police brutality and divestments in police, with Black people being 2.9 times more likely to be killed by police than white people. California has taken steps to increase accountability and police oversight following officer-involved shootings that result in the death of an unarmed person.
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On Jan. 10, 2023, Tyre Nichols, 29, succumbed to his injuries after five Black Memphis police officers severely beat, tased and pepper sprayed him during a traffic stop. Nichols was a son and a father.
In 2023, police in the U.S. killed 1,353 people, marking the year as one with the highest police killings to date, according to Mapping Police Violence, a database of police violence developed by Campaign Zero, a project of the non-profit organization WeTheProtesters. This year may be shaping up to look similar to 2023, as 1,024 individuals have been killed by police so far.
Following the murder of Nichols, the Memphis Police Department (MPD) opened an internal investigation and the U.S. Department of Justice opened a civil rights case to investigate the use of force. The five officers: Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills Jr. and Justin Smith were fired and charged with second-degree murder, kidnapping and other offenses by the Shelby County District Attorney.
Nearly two years later, on Oct. 3, three of the five former officers were found guilty of federal felonies related to the death of Nichols. Bean, Haley and Smith were all convicted of obstruction of justice and witness tampering, but not found guilty in the harshest charge: depriving Nichols of his civil rights. Haley was found guilty of depriving Nichols of his civil rights and a “deliberate indifference resulting in serious bodily injury,” according to a DOJ press release. Haley was also convicted of conspiring to commit witness tampering. Martin and Mills, Jr. previously pleaded guilty to “using unreasonable force against Nichols” that resulted in his death before the start of the trial.
“With these convictions, all five of the former officers involved in the death of Mr. Nichols have been convicted of federal felonies. Tyre Nichols should be alive today,” stated Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “We extend our condolences to the family and loved ones of Mr. Nichols. We hope this prosecution provides some measure of comfort as the law enforcement officers tied to his death have been held accountable.”
Body camera footage of the traffic stop was released to the public and presented to the jury during the trial. The trial, which proceeded over four weeks, began with jury selection on Sept. 9.
Although officers responsible faced some charges, Nichols’ death reignited the conversation around police brutality and divestments in police. Across the U.S., Black people are 2.9 times more likely to be killed by police than white people.
In California, Black people are 3.4 times more likely to be killed by police than white people. In 2023, 143 people were killed by police and so far, in 2024, 95 people have been killed.
Earlier this year, San Bernardino County deputies shot and killed 15-year-old Ryan Gainer, an autistic, Black teenager in Apple Valley; and in April, San Bernardino County officers shot and killed 17-year-old Aaron James.
California has taken steps to increase accountability and police oversight following officer-involved shootings that result in the death of an unarmed person. On July 1, 2021, Assembly Bill 1506 took effect. The legislation calls on the California Department of Justice to investigate such incidents. Traditionally, these incidents have been mostly handled by local law enforcement agencies and district attorneys.
Under AB 1506, the California DOJ publicizes “relevant information and materials about covered incidents and, ultimately, make public its determinations regarding the criminal prosecution of such incidents.” In other instances, the DOJ will prepare and publicize a written report that includes a statement and analysis of facts, an explanation of why criminal charges were not appropriate, and “when appropriate, recommendations to modify the policies and practices of the involved law enforcement agency.”