Kazeem Owoseni
The long-awaited police footage of the events, leading to the death of a 29-year-old Black Man, Tyre Nichols, has been released by the City of Memphis.
The video was released, following the Memphis police department’s initial claim that Nichols had an open confrontation with the officers, shortly after he fled the scene of the traffic stop on foot. He complained of having shortness of breath after the encounter and was transported to St. Francis Hospital, where he died, days after.
However, the Memphis Police Department released four different videos, showing different angles and portions of Nicolas’ traffic stop.
This new development is coming shortly after the five terminated officers, involved in his death, were booked into jail, on Thursday January 26 2023 and charged for murder, assault and kidnapping, in connection to Nichols’s death
Shortly after their arrest, four of the five officers; Tadarrius Bean, Justin Smith, Desmond Mills Jr, and Emmitt Martin III were released on a combined $1 million bond while the fifth officer, Demetrius Haley was still in custody as of Friday afternoon, on a $350, 000 bond but as of Friday night, he was released also, making the five officers bonded out of Shelby County Jail. According to the court records
However, before the release of the footage, Memphis Police Chief, Cerelyn Davis said on Friday that, there was no proof that late Tyre was driving carelessly when he was stopped by the officers.
According to him, “I’m sure that individuals watching will feel what the family felt, and if you don’t, then you’re not a human being,
“I would say, it is about the same, if not worse than the 1991 beating of Rodney King. A group-think mentality.”
Davis further explained that, Nichols can be heard calling for his Mother in footage.
According to Nichols’ Mother, Row Vaughn Wells while chatting with CNN on Friday, “Yes, he cried out for me, because I’m his mother,” “He was trying to get home to safety. He was Mamma’s Boy.”
” I was feeling my son’s pain as they were beating him to death,” “they brought shame to their families. “They brought shame to the black community.”
The Nichols’ family, however said, they are in support of sharing the police video that led to his death.
While reacting to matter on social media, Shaun King stated that, they want the world to see what American Police did an innocent Boy.
According to him, “They want the world to see what police in America did to their son and they want police all over America to see the consequences of what they did to Tyre,”
“Their hope is that, if it even impacts a few police and prevents them from acting this way in the future, possibly saving lives, that it is worth it to them for the video to be shared.”
However, a GoFundMe page has been reportedly created to cover Nichols’ case and funeral expenses.
Nichols died on January 10, three days after he was pulled over by the Memphis officers, for alleged reckless driving.
