Tyre Nichols, a FedEx driver, was killed in Memphis, Tennessee, and five ex-police officers including Justin Smith, have been charged with second-degree murder
The 29-year-old man died on January 10 from injuries sustained in a scuffle with police following a traffic check. In addition to aggravated assault and aggravated kidnapping, Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills, Jr., and Justin Smith are now being charged with two counts of official misconduct, official oppression, and two instances of official misconduct.
Who is Justin Smith Memphis police officer involved in Tyre Nichols death, his age, family and career
Justin Smith, one of the five co-accused policemen in the killing of Tyre Nichols, is a native Memphian and a member of the Memphis Police Department who signed on in March of 2018. At 27, he is a year younger than the victim, and he is not married, according to the police report.
"It's about human dignity, integrity, accountability, and the duty to protect our community."
Memphis Police Chief tells @donlemon she does not believe race was a factor in Tyre Nichols' violent arrest pic.twitter.com/icbIG39leS
— CNN This Morning (@CNNThisMorning) January 27, 2023
Nichols died on January 10 from the severe injuries he sustained on January 7 at a hospital, reportedly at the hands of Smith and his colleagues police officers Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, and Desmond Mills Jr.
The police department terminated the officer’s employment on January 20, and on January 26, he was arrested and charged with second-degree murder, official oppression, aggravated kidnapping while in possession of a weapon, aggravated assault – acting in concert, official misconduct through unauthorised exercising of official power, two counts of aggravated kidnapping causing bodily injury, and two counts of official misconduct through failure to perform a duty imposed by law.
Tyre Nichols was brutally killed
The district attorney for Shelby County, Steve Mutlroy, described the victim as bloody and bruised. After he was pepper sprayed and then brutally murdered within yards of his home. A previous report cited Nichols’ mother as saying her son had been “beaten like a piata.”
"They beat my son like a piñata. My son, he had Crohn's disease, he had surgery in 2013. My son weighed a buck 50."@donlemon speaks to Tyre Nichols' parents ahead of release of police beating video pic.twitter.com/GSzIGcKdP9
— CNN This Morning (@CNNThisMorning) January 27, 2023
For legal representation, the family has hired civil rights attorney Ben Crump. Who is well-known for his work on high-profile cases. Such as those involving Trayvon Martin and George Floyd in the United States. Immediately following the incident with Nichols, Crump demanded the release of footage from police body and vehicle dashboard cameras.
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