January 26, 2023 - 5 former officers indicted in death of Tyre Nichols

Attorney Ben Crump, who represents Tyre Nichols’ family, told CNN’s Allison Camerota Thursday the video of the events leading to Nichols’ death will “remind you of Rodney King in many regards.” 

King, a Black motorist, was beaten by Los Angeles Police Department officers in a 1991 incident that was captured on video, triggering riots a year later after four White officers were acquitted of assault.

The city of Memphis plans to release video of Nichols’ arrest sometime after 6 p.m. local time (7 p.m. ET) Friday, according to Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy.

The attorney noted that at the end of the video Nichols’ can be heard calling for his mother three times before falling silent.

“Then you never hear Tyre Nichols say another word anymore on that video,” he said.
“You see him up against the car, sitting down in handcuffs, and you see his body fall to the right and after a minute or so, they put him back upright. Then you see his body fall to the left and they pick him back up and it’s obvious he’s in distress (…) he’s moaning and nobody renders aid,” Crump told CNN.

“That’s what’s so painful, because you want some ounce of humanity. Somebody to say, ‘hey, we’ve got to try to help him — and it never occurs and that’s what’s so troubling about the video,” the attorney said.

Crump said when the video is released on Friday, it will “evoke strong emotions, very strong emotions,” reiterating the Nichols’ family has asked that anyone protesting do so peacefully.

The family of Tyre Nichols and members of the Memphis community attended a candlelight prayer vigil at the city’s Tobey Skatepark on Thursday to celebrate the 29-year-old’s life.

Nichols was fond of skateboarding in Shelby Farms Park, going to Starbucks with friends and photographing sunsets, and he had his mother’s name tattooed on his arm, the family said.

All after-school activities and events are canceled on Friday, Memphis Shelby County Schools said in a Twitter post. 

“In the interest of public safety, on Friday, January 27, all after-school activities, including Y-care and athletic events, will be canceled,” the post said. 

The district is also postponing its 2023 School Choice Showcase which was scheduled for Saturday,. 

The district plans to announce any further cancellations for Saturday activities by Friday evening. 

The city of Memphis plans to release video of Nichols’ arrest sometime after 6 p.m. local time (7 p.m. ET) Friday, according to Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy.

RowVaughn Wells, the mother of Tyre Nichols, asked for people to protest peacefully after footage showing her son’s arrest is released Friday evening.

“When that tape comes out tomorrow, it’s going to be horrific,” Wells said at a vigil for her son in Memphis Thursday. “I didn’t see it, but from what I hear, it’s going to be horrific.”
“But I want each and every one of you to protest in peace,” she said. “I don’t want us burning up our cities, tearing up the streets, because that’s not what my son stood for.”
“And if you guy’s are here for me and Tyre, then you will protest peacefully.” 

The city of Memphis plans to release video of Nichols’ arrest sometime after 6 p.m. local time (7 p.m. ET) Friday, according to Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy.

Correction: A previous version of this post misspelled RowVaughn Wells’ first name.

Police departments across the country told CNN they are either monitoring the events in Memphis, Tennessee, closely or already have plans in place in case of large-scale protests or unrest relating to the case of Tyre Nichols.

The city of Memphis plans to release video of Nichols’ fatal arrest sometime after 6 p.m. local time (7 p.m. ET) Friday.

In preparation, the Atlanta Police Department has moved to 12-hour shifts and canceled days off.

The Los Angeles Police Department is “closely monitoring what is going on in the county and is prepared for any situation that might arise,” said Tony Im, a LAPD spokesperson.  

In Seattle, Det. Judinna Gulpan said the police department “is planning, preparing, and staffing to provide public safety throughout the city should police resources be needed.”   

The Denver Police Department said it “is monitoring for any potential demonstration activity in Denver, and will adjust resources if or as needed.”   

The Oakland Police Department in California said it’s unaware of any planned protests or marches, but is monitoring the situation. 

 The New York Police Department said it’s prepared for any potential unrest.

“The Department has examined, adapted and adjusted our response to protests and is prepared to protect the Constitutional right to peaceful protest, and works to ensure public safety for every New Yorker exercising their First Amendment rights,” an NYPD spokesperson said.  

The Dallas Police Department told CNN their leadership has been in contact with community and faith-based leaders to prepare for potential protests and vigils.  

“Our response teams are on standby, and we will add additional patrols as they are needed,” said Kristin Lowman, assistant director for public information.   
“We understand the emotion the criminal charges on these former officers have caused, and that emotions may intensify when the video footage is released,” she said. “While we respect everyone’s right to protest, no matter their position, we will NOT condone lawlessness in our city. We will take the appropriate action if anyone’s actions threaten lives or harm people or property.”  

In an open letter, the attorneys for the family of Tyre Nichols wrote that they want changes to “saturation unit” policing in wake of his death. 

“Pro-active policing” or “saturation unit policing,” whether the officers are in unmarked cars wearing tactical vests or “jump-out boys” in plain clothes and undercover, is defined by several common and dangerous components, Attorneys Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci wrote. 

The units are intended to flood troubled areas with officers to stem high crime, they noted.

“But what we’ve seen this month in Memphis and for many years in many places, is that the behavior of these units can morph into ‘wolf pack’ misconduct that takes away a person’s liberty or freedom to move, akin to a kidnapping.”

The attorneys said the aggressive encounters, which they noted focused often on Black and brown people, can destroy trust between police and communities.

They also can “lead to physical injury or death when the culture of unchecked, pro-active policing overtakes common sense.”

At least two of the officers charged in Nichols’ death were members of the Memphis Police SCORPION (Street Crimes Operation to Restore Peace in our Neighborhoods) unit, according to their own attorneys. 

“Whatever happened to Tyre, there was a cultural mindset to it, and it’s not unique to Memphis. From Baltimore to Chicago and DC, units like the SCORPION unmarked cars – regardless of what the units are named – cause terror in minority communities,” the letter read. 

The attorneys urged Attorney General Merrick Garland and the Department of Justice to investigate cities that use these tactics to “determine if they are effective in reducing crime and ask for all data on injuries and deaths related to ‘saturation patrols’ as well as a compilation of complaints from citizens.

Justin Smith, one of the five former Memphis Police officers indicted in the death of Tyre Nichols, was released on $250,000 bond Thursday night, according to Shelby County Jail records.

His release came shortly after Desmond Mills Jr., another defendant in the case, was set free after posting a $250,000 bond.

The three other indicted officers – Emmitt Martin, Tadarrius Bean and Demetrius Haley – were still in jail Thursday night.

A self-described longtime family friend of Emmitt Martin III, one of the five former officers indicted in the death of Tyre Nichols, said Martin came to his office in the days following the fatal traffic stop.

Bennie Cobb told CNN Martin appeared “nervous” about his future as a police officer and “remorseful” for what happened. He also recalled Martin asking for help with obtaining an attorney.

Cobb said Martin texted him “a couple of weeks ago” saying that he needed to talk. The two spoke for about two hours in-person, according to Cobb.

When the two met, he said Martin arrived looking “shaken” and “tired.” Martin came to discuss Nichols’ death and his involvement with it.

“I’m shocked that he’s in this situation,” said Cobb, who is a retired captain with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office. “I never knew him to be violent.” 

“He was really remorseful and kind of embarrassed,” said Cobb, who considers himself a mentor to Martin.

“When I saw this big man that I knew as a kid, I saw the pain on his face. He said he hadn’t slept in probably five or six days. When he was expressing to me the things that went on, he was teary eyed,” Cobb said, recalling the conversation. “He was nervous and rightly so. Somebody died from the actions that you participated in.”

Cobb said he and Martin prayed together, which included words for the Nichols family.

The 40-year law enforcement veteran expressed he was concerned after hearing Martin’s description of what happened, especially regarding communication – or lack thereof – with dispatch as well as with his supervising officers.

“Communication is the number one thing to officer safety,” Cobb said. “Letting the dispatcher know what’s going on.”

Cobb said Martin told him that the officers used pepper spray, batons and a Taser. After hearing how the confrontation with Nichols proceeded, Martin said it was concerning to him.

“He mentioned there was other numbers of people out there … that he felt like did not do enough, especially when he saw a young man that was in distress,” Cobb said.

The attorney for Tyre Nichols’ family has seen video of the events leading to his death and said people should be prepared for a disturbing scene.

“It was an MMA fight, except there was only one side that was MMA,” attorney Antonio Romanucci told CNN’s John Berman on Thursday. “Tyre was helpless, he was defenseless. He was restrained.”

The video is scheduled to be released sometime after 6 p.m. local time (7 p.m. ET) Friday, according to Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy.

Indictments were announced Thursday for five former Memphis Police officers on multiple charges, including second-degree murder.

Even after seeing the video of what happened, the family is still not clear why police stopped Nichols in the first place, Romanucci said.

Romanucci said he hopes there will be “peace in the streets” after the video is released Friday, and he says Nichols’ family was pleased with Thursday’s announcement of charges.

“Clearly, they wanted the absolute utmost charges, and I think with what we see today, they’re going to get that,” said Romanucci.

Indictments: A grand jury returned indictments against the five ex-cops involved in Tyre Nichols’ fatal traffic stop arrest. Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy said the indicted officers are all responsible for Nichols’ death. Each ex-cop faces one charge of second-degree murder, one charge of aggravated assault, two charges of aggravated kidnapping, two charges of official misconduct and one charge of official oppression. One of the five who was charged was released from jail Thursday night after posting $250,000 bond. The other four former officers had not yet posted bond as of Thursday evening, records showed.

Indictment reactions: Lawyers for two of the former officers charged in Nichols’ death said they are waiting to see how the justice system plays out, emphasizing both of their clients are upset about the situation. The Nichols family attorneys said the grand jury’s decision “gives us hope as we continue to push for justice for Tyre.” The NAACP said the indictments should spur national action to curb police brutality. And Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland thanked Mulroy, the district attorney, for bringing forward the indictments. He said officials are “doing everything we can to prevent this from happening again.”

Video release: The city of Memphis will release the video of Nichols’ fatal arrest on Friday sometime after 6 p.m. local time, Mulroy said Thursday. He told CNN the video does not show the full encounter between Nichols and police. Nichols’ family on Monday met with Memphis officials and viewed video recordings of his arrest ahead of its release. The head of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said Thursday he was “sickened” by what he saw in the video. And Antonio Romanucci, attorney for Nichols’ family, told CNN Thursday people should be prepared for a disturbing scene.

One of the five former Memphis Police officers who was charged with second-degree murder in the death of Tyre Nichols was released from jail Thursday night, according to Shelby County Jail records.

Desmond Mills Jr. posted $250,000 bond.

The other four former officers who were charged had not yet posted bond Thursday evening, records showed.

Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy said video shows police officers were already “highly charged up” from the initial interaction with Tyre Nichols and it escalated from there, adding the footage does not show the beginning of the encounter with him.

Mulroy told CNN’s Erin Burnett he is very confident “we can secure a conviction. We have a very strong case and we’re ready for the process to go forward.”

“I should just clarify that the video we have doesn’t start from the very beginning of the altercation. It kind of cuts in as the first encounter is in progress, and so that’s what I mean when I say they were already highly charged. I think when everyone watches the video tomorrow night when it’s released, I think everyone will see what we mean.”

The city of Memphis plans to release video of Nichols’ arrest sometime after 6 p.m. local time (7 p.m. ET) Friday, according to the district attorney.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee offered his sympathies to the family of Tyre Nichols and vowed that “cruel, criminal abuse of power will not be tolerated in the state.”

“These individuals do not represent the honorable men & women of law enforcement, & they must be brought to justice for this tragic loss of life,” the governor said in a statement posted on Twitter.

“The City of Memphis & the Memphis Police Department need to take a hard look at the misconduct & failure that has occurred within this unit. I discussed this with Mayor Strickland & am pleased the city is pursuing an external, impartial investigation,” it added.

Ahead of the city’s plan to release video of Tyre Nichols’ arrest, Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland said officials wanted to be sure Nichols’ family had a chance to privately view the footage.

“I am sad and angry for the family of Tyre Nichols. I am also angry for the many good men and women of the Memphis Police Department who devote their lives to serving our citizens,” he said in a video statement posted on Facebook on Thursday.

Video of the fatal police encounter, a mix of body-camera video and pole-cam video, is expected to be released Friday evening, he said, echoing an announcement from the Shelby County district attorney earlier Thursday.

Strickland thanked Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn Davis for moving quickly with the “administrative procedure” resulting in the firing of the five officers involved in the traffic stop. He also thanked Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy for bringing forward the indictments.

The five former officers have each been charged with second-degree murder, aggravated assault, two charges of aggravated kidnapping, two charges of official misconduct and one charge of official oppression.

“The actions of these officers were awful and no one, including law enforcement, is above the law,” Strickland said.

The mayor said officials are “doing everything we can to prevent this from happening again,” including initiating an outside, independent review of policies and training of specialized units within the Memphis Police Department.

Some context: Attorneys for two of the former officers, Desmond Mills Jr. and Emmitt Martin, confirmed that their clients were members of the Street Crimes Operation to Restore Peace in Our Neighborhoods, or SCORPION unit. It is a specialized team focused on curbing violent crime, according to MPD.

Earlier Thursday, District Attorney Steve Mulroy said the unit was “involved” in Nichols’ arrest.

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Memphis City Council Chairman Martavius Jones told CNN that he hopes the charges announced against five former officers from the arrest of Tyre Nichols will help address the concerns of community members ahead of the expected release of video from the encounter.

“Our next step is going to see what the video actually looks like, and we hope that since we’ve delivered this accountability, that the community will accept that steps are being taken to bring justice to those individuals responsible for this act,” Jones told CNN’s Victor Blackwell during CNN Newsroom.

City Council Vice Chair JB Smiley Jr. said the city will continue to work with community leaders and organizers ahead of the video release, in hopes of quelling any potentially dangerous protests.

“I think what you will see in Memphis, you will see protests, but it will be peaceful because the Memphis Police Department, the sheriff’s department, the district attorney and the Memphis City Council, along with the city administration, has took all the necessary steps to quell any potential of rioting in our city,” Smiley said.

The city of Memphis plans to release video of Nichols’ arrest sometime after 6 p.m. local time (7 p.m. ET) Friday, according to the county district attorney.

Lawyers for two former Memphis police officers being charged with murder in the death of Tyre Nichols said they are waiting to see how the justice system plays out, emphasizing that both of their clients are upset about the situation.

Blake Ballin, attorney for Desmond Mills Jr., and William Massey, attorney for Emmitt Martin, said they have not seen the video of Nichols’ arrest. It is expected to be released Friday evening, according to the Shelby County district attorney.

“Justice means following the law and the law says that no one is guilty until a jury says they’re guilty,” Massey said. He said his client intends to post a bond of $350,000 and also will plead not guilty. 

Mills Jr. and Martin, along with three other former MPD officers, were indicted on charges including murder and kidnapping, Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy announced Thursday.

Ballin said his client, Mills Jr., “could not be more upset about this entire situation.”

He said Mills Jr. is in the process of posting a $250,000 bond to secure his release and plans to enter a not-guilty plea in court. 

Though he said he has not had a conversation specifically about Nichols yet with Mills Jr., “to be accused of being involved in the death of another is devastating.”

While this is just the beginning of the process, Ballin said, the announcement of charges is causing Mills Jr. and his family a lot of “anxiety and a lot of pain, not only for his own situation but for what this kind of accusation, what this kind of incident, is doing to our city.”

The attorneys said initial court appearance dates had not yet been set.

CNN’s Andy Rose contributed reporting to this post.

A grand jury on Thursday returned indictments against Emmitt Martin III, Justin Smith, Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley and Desmond Mills. 

Each former officer is charged with second-degree murder, aggravated assault, two charges of aggravated kidnapping, two charges of official misconduct and one charge of official oppression for their alleged roles in the death of Tyre Nichols. 

According to attorney and CNN legal analyst Joey Jackson, the charges are “very significant and very important and can land all of these officers in jail, essentially if it’s 15 to 60 years, for the rest of their natural lives.”

He said that there are “two distinctions” when comparing charges for first-degree versus second-degree murder:

“The first distinction, is the distinction in terms of the level of intent,” Jackson told CNN. “If you charge first degree murder, the prosecutor then has to demonstrate you acted with premeditation. Second degree murder, on the other hand, you simply have to demonstrate that it was a knowing killing, as you heard the prosecutor say. What does that mean? You have to appreciate and know that the nature of your conduct could cause a death.”

Under Tennessee sentencing guidelines, a conviction for first-degree murder could warrant life in prison or life without parole, Jackson said. For second-degree murder, the ex-officers could face 15 to 60 years if convicted, he said.

Jackson said the video of Nichols’ fatal traffic stop arrest will be “significant” to the case, which Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy said will be released by the city of Memphis after 6 p.m. local time on Friday.

“We’ll find out whether the stop itself was legitimate,” he said. “But even if the stop is legitimate, there comes a point, based upon your conduct, where you can exceed that legitimacy by detaining someone unlawfully against their will.”

The NAACP said Thursday that the decision of a grand jury to indict five former Memphis police officers for the murder of Tyre Nichols should spur national action to curb police brutality.

“It is only right that the Memphis Police Department takes the necessary additional steps to hold these officers accountable for their role in ripping apart a family and traumatizing a community,” NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson said in a statement. “However, this is far from what justice looks like. Justice looks like the 535 members of Congress taking the time to turn their ‘thoughts and prayers’ into action and change.”

Johnson’s statement did not specify what law the association wants to be passed but said Congress’ record in the wake of killings at the hands of police is notable.

“We can name all the victims of police violence, but we can’t name a single law you have passed to address it,” Johnson added.

Separately, Memphis NAACP branch president Van Turner told CNN’s Don Lemon that he thinks authorities have been transparent.

“There’s no coverup. There’s no suspension with pay. There’s no ‘We’ll get to it when we want to.’ There’s been transparency. There’s been swift action,” Turner said.

He also encouraged members of the community who are planning to protest to do so in a peaceful way.

“I don’t expect there to be, you know, violence because there’s been transparency. The officers have been terminated, they’ve been charged. We know that the video will be bad. We know that there will be protests, but having citizens come out over the weekend to share that frustration with what has occurred may not be a bad idea,” he said.  

CNN’s Sabrina Clay contributed to this report.

President Joe Biden released a statement Thursday and that the family of Tyre Nichols “deserves a swift, full, and transparent investigation into his death.”

“Public trust is the foundation of public safety and there are still too many places in America today where the bonds of trust are frayed or broken. Tyre’s death is a painful reminder that we must do more to ensure that our criminal justice system lives up to the promise of fair and impartial justice, equal treatment, and dignity for all,” Biden said in the statement released following the news of charges filed against five former Memphis police officers in Nichols death after a traffic stop earlier this month

He added: “To deliver real change, we must have accountability when law enforcement officers violate their oaths, and we need to build lasting trust between law enforcement, the vast majority of whom wear the badge honorably, and the communities they are sworn to serve and protect.”

Biden was briefed earlier Thursdays on the charges, according to a White House official.

Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy explained to reporters why there are charges related to aggravated kidnapping in Tyre Nichols’ case.

Mulroy, addressing a news conference on Thursday, defined kidnapping as “any unlawful confinement of another which substantially restrains someone’s liberty.”

He then described how the circumstances in Nichols’ case fit the kidnapping charge.

 At a certain point in the sequence of events, it is our view that this, if it was a legal detention to begin with — it certainly became illegal at a certain point and it was unlawful detention. The aggravated nature of the charge is because if that kidnapping resulted in bodily injury, that’s one grounds for saying that it is aggravated kidnapping. If the persons involved in that unlawful restraint of liberty possessed weapons, that is another ground for saying that the kidnapping was aggravated,” he said.

Nichols died three days after he was pulled over for alleged reckless driving by Memphis Police Department officers, as CNN previously reported.

In a statement, police claimed confrontations ensued between Nichols and the officers. After he was taken into custody, police said, Nichols complained he was having shortness of breath and was taken to a local hospital, where he later died. 

A Memphis police special unit focused on curbing violent crime was involved in the arrest, and ultimate death of Tyre Nichols, Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy said Thursday.

The Street Crimes Operation to Restore Peace in Our Neighborhoods unit, or SCORPION for short, was launched in November 2021.

It is made up of teams of officers whose “primary focus will be violent crime reduction and the saturation of hot spot areas throughout the city,” the police department said in a Facebook video announcing the new unit.

Asked by a reporter if the former officers that were charged in Nichols’ death were members of the SCORPIONs, Mulroy only said that the violent crime unit was involved, but did not confirm the former officers were on that team.

At a later news conference, attorneys for Desmond Mills Jr. and Emmitt Martin confirmed that their clients were members of the SCORPION unit.

The Tyre Nichols case should shepherd new discussions about policing in the US, Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy said Thursday.

“It’s my hope that if there is any silver lining to be drawn from this very dark cloud, it’s that perhaps this incident can open a broader conversation about the need for police reform,” Mulroy said, speaking at a news conference.

“The world is watching us, and we need to show the world what lessons we can learn from this tragedy. I’m hopeful that we can show them who I know us to be: a community working toward positive change here in Memphis and Shelby County,” the district attorney added. 

The head of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation called the death of Tyre Nichols “appalling” and “criminal.”

“Simply put, this shouldn’t have happened. I have been policing for more than 30 years. I have devoted my life to this profession, and I’m grieved. Frankly, I’m shocked. I’m sickened by what I saw,” David Rausch, the director of the TBI, said at a news conference Thursday.

Memphis police and the TBI have been investigating the use of force in Nichols’ arrest. He said that what officials learned so far is “appalling.”

“What happened here does not at all reflect proper policing. This was wrong. This was criminal. The depth and breadth of the charges announced today speaks to the deliberate and thorough investigation that this case has received, and our work is not finished,” Rausch said.

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The city of Memphis will release the video of Tyre Nichols’ fatal arrest Friday after 6 p.m. local time, Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy said Thursday.

He said the city will also make a statement sometime later this afternoon about the timing of that release.

“The actual release will be up to the city of Memphis, but my understanding is it’ll be a combination of pull-cam video, SkyCop video and body cam video.” 

Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy said that the five officers indicted are all responsible for the death of Tyre Nichols.

A grand jury returned indictments against Emmitt Martin III, Justin Smith, Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley and Desmond Mills, charging each with:

“While each of the five individuals played a different role in the incident in question, the actions of all of them resulted in the death of Tyre Nichols, and they are all responsible,” Mulroy said during a news conference Thursday.

The officers are currently in custody, he added.  

Mulroy went on to explain why there are charges of aggravated kidnapping in Nichols’ case.

“Kidnapping is any unlawful confinement of another which substantially restrains someone’s liberty. At a certain point in the sequence of events, it is our view that this, if it was a legal detention to begin with — it certainly became illegal at a certain point and it was unlawful detention. The aggravated nature of the charge is because if that kidnapping resulted in bodily injury, that’s one grounds for saying that it is aggravated kidnapping. If the persons involved in that unlawful restraint of liberty possessed weapons, that is another ground for saying that the kidnapping was aggravated,” he said.

Nichols died three days after he was pulled over for alleged reckless driving by Memphis Police Department officers, as CNN previously reported.

In a statement, police claimed confrontations ensued between Nichols and the officers. After he was taken into custody, police said, Nichols complained he was having shortness of breath and was taken to a local hospital, where he later died. 

Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy said he met with the family of Tyre Nichols, the man who died three days after a traffic stop, to tell them the charges against five former Memphis police officers.

“We have previously met with the family of Tyre Nichols to go over what these charges were going to be, and that meeting with the family I think went rather well,” he said.

The former officers are currently in custody, he added.

Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy said officials worked to expedite the investigation into the death of Tyre Nichols because of the “extraordinary nature of the case.”

Speaking at a news conference Thursday, after news of charges against five former Memphis officers, Mulroy said his office immediately called in the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation to make sure there was an independent voice looking into the fact.

He said officials worked “swiftly but also fairly,” while also ensuring prosecutors “have a strong case.”

“We’re here today because of a tragedy that wounds one family deeply, but also hurts us all,” Mulroy said, adding that he met with Nichols’ family “several times” this week.

The attorneys for the family of Tyre Nichols, Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci, have issued a statement following news of charges against five former Memphis police officers. 

The statement reads:

“The news today from Memphis officials that these five officers are being held criminally accountable for their deadly and brutal actions gives us hope as we continue to push for justice for Tyre. This young man lost his life in a particularly disgusting manner that points to the desperate need for change and reform to ensure this violence stops occurring during low-threat procedures, like in this case, a traffic stop. This tragedy meets the absolute definition of a needless and unnecessary death. Tyre’s loved ones’ lives were forever changed when he was beaten to death, and we will keep saying his name until justice is served.”

Crump and Romannuci say they will hold a news conference along with the Nichols family on Friday at noon ET.

An indictment in Shelby County Criminal Court details charges of second-degree murder, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated assault, official misconduct and official oppression against the five former Memphis officers charged in the death of Tyre Nichols.

In addition to laying out the justification for the charges, the grand jury indictment states the officers intentionally did “refrain from performing a duty that was imposed by law that was clearly inherent in the nature of the office or employment.” 

Notably, the Memphis Police Department amended its duty to intervene policy after the death of George Floyd in 2020, according to a copy of the policy sent to CNN by the department. The newer policy says that “any member who directly observes another member engaged in dangerous or criminal conduct or abuse of a subject shall take reasonable action to intervene.”

Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy told CNN’s Don Lemon on CNN that the investigation is ongoing, and this indictment “does not preclude” the possibility of charges against other people.

CNN has obtained portions of the police scanner audio leading up to the arrest of Tyre Nichols who died three days after he was pulled over for alleged reckless driving in Memphis, Tennessee.

Police say confrontations ensued between Nichols and officers during the stop. 

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Five former Memphis police officers are facing charges in the death of Tyre Nichols. 

Emmitt Martin III, Justin Smith, Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley and Desmond Mills are each facing charges of second-degree murder and aggravated assault, as well as two charges of aggravated kidnapping, two charges of official misconduct and one charge of official oppression, according to both Shelby County criminal court and Shelby County jail records.

Altogether, at least four former Memphis police officers are now facing charges in the death of Tyre Nichols.

Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley and Desmond Mills are facing charges of second-degree murder, aggravated assault, two charges of aggravated kidnapping, two charges of official misconduct and one charge of official oppression, according to Shelby County criminal court records.

A fourth former officer, Emmitt Martin III, has also been charged, but his attorney could not provide specific charges to CNN.

Correction: A previous version of this post gave the wrong spellings for the names of two of the arrested officers. Their names are Emmitt Martin and Tadarrius Bean.

Two former Memphis police officers, Tadarrius Bean and Demetrius Haley, are each facing seven charges in the death of Tyre Nichols.

Bean and Haley will be charged with second-degree murder, aggravated assault, two charges of aggravated kidnapping, two charges of official misconduct and one charge of official oppression, according Shelby County criminal court records. 

CNN has reached out to both Bean and Haley’s attorneys about potential charges but they have not yet responded.

The Shelby County district attorney’s office has called a 3 p.m. ET news conference to discuss developments in the Nichols case.

The family of Tyre Nichols wants the officers seen beating him on video charged with murder, family attorney Antonio Romanucci told CNN’s Erin Burnett Wednesday evening. 

“The family wants nothing but the absolute most charge that they can bring and what they want are murder charges,” Romanucci said. “There is no doubt they want to see that, that I can relay to you. The family is quite clear that they want to see murder charges brought against those officers and I would support those charges if they can be brought.”

Five police officers and two members of the city’s fire department were fired in the wake of Nichols’ death. 

The Shelby County District Attorney has yet to announce if anyone will be charged in the case. Video of the incident that Nichols’ family and attorneys have viewed has not been publicly released.

An attorney for one of the five Memphis police officers fired over the death of Tyre Nichols says his client has been indicted and has surrendered.

Attorney William Massey represents former officer Emmitt Martin III.

Massey told CNN’s Don Lemon he does not yet know the nature of the charges and is working to find out.

The status of the other former officers is unclear.

An attorney representing one of the officers fired after the death of Tyre Nichols will hold a press briefing following an update from the Shelby County district attorney Thursday. 

Memphis defense attorney Blake Ballin will hold a briefing at 4:30 p.m. ET regarding his client, former Memphis officer Desmond Mills Jr.

Thursday afternoon’s update on the Tyre Nichols death investigation will include an announcement of criminal charges, a source close to the investigation tells CNN’s Don Lemon.

The source also told CNN that authorities expect to release police video of the stop on Friday.

The Shelby County District Attorney will give an update this afternoon on the investigation of the death of Nichols, who died three days after he was pulled over for alleged reckless driving.

Law enforcement agencies nationwide are bracing for protests and potential unrest following the anticipated release of video showing the brutal beating of Tyre Nichols by Memphis police officers, multiple sources told CNN. 

The Major Cities Chiefs Association, one of the leading professional law enforcement organizations, has convened several calls with member agencies, according to the group’s Executive Director Laura Cooper.

A law enforcement source familiar with the national coordination told CNN that in at least one of those calls, Memphis police told participants to be on alert for unrest. The source added there was an additional call among Washington, DC, law enforcement agencies to coordinate responses and share information. 

The source said that agencies such as US Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department are adding additional staffing to prepare for potential violence. The source added that with the Capitol Police, for example, civil disturbance units have been activated and additional command staff will be brought in. 

The video is expected to be released soon.

Some background: Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man, was hospitalized after Memphis police pulled him over in a traffic stop and used force to arrest him Jan. 7. He died from his injuries three days later.

Five Memphis police officers, who are also Black, were fired for violating policies on excessive use of force, duty to intervene and duty to render aid, the department said. A prosecutor has said a decision on whether to file charges is forthcoming.

Tyre Nichols was a father, a man who loved his mama and a free-spirited soul who was looking for a new life in Memphis, Tennessee.

That life was tragically cut short earlier this month after a violent arrest by five officers with the Memphis Police.

Now, as attention turns toward potential charges for the officers involved, Nichols’ family wants the world to know the man Nichols was.

The 29-year-old was the baby of his family, the youngest of four children. He was a “good boy” who spent his Sundays doing laundry and getting ready for the week, his mother, RowVaughn Wells, said.

Above all else, Nichols loved being a father and loved his son, his family said.

“Everything he was trying to do was to better himself as a father for his 4-year-old son,” attorney Benjamin Crump said at the family’s news conference.

Nichols was someone who brought everyone joy. “When he comes through the door, he wants to give you a hug,” Crump said, speaking on behalf of Nichols’ family.

Nichols’ daily life was ordinary at times, as he worked and spent time with family, but he also made time for his passions, his mom, Wells, said.

Nichols worked the second shift at FedEx, where he had been employed for about nine months, she said.

He came home during his break to eat with his mom, who would have dinner cooked.

Nichols loved his mom’s homemade chicken, made with sesame seeds, just the way he liked it, Wells said.

When he wasn’t working, Nichols headed to Shelby Farms Park to skateboard, something he had been doing since he was 6 years old. He would wake up on Saturdays to go skate or sometimes, he’d go to the park to enjoy the sunset and snap photos of it, his mom said.

“My son every night wanted to go and look at the sunset, that was his passion,” she said.

Read more about Nichols here.

Correction: A previous version of this post misspelled RowVaughn Wells’ first name.

The Shelby County District Attorney will give an update this afternoon on the investigation of the death of Tyre Nichols, who died three days after he was pulled over for alleged reckless driving.

Following his death, the Memphis Police Department (MPD) said five of its officers were terminated for violating multiple department policies during the traffic stop.

“The Memphis Police Department has concluded its administrative investigation into the tragic death of Mr. Tyre Nichols,” MPD said in a news release on Jan. 20. “After a thorough review of the circumstances surrounding this incident, we have determined that five (5) MPD officers violated multiple department policies, including excessive use of force, duty to intervene, and duty to render aid.” 

The five officers involved in the stop were fired from the police department, according to the release. 

“Earlier today, each officer charged was terminated from the Memphis Police Department,” the release read. 

“The egregious nature of this incident is not a reflection of the good work that our officers perform, with integrity, every day,” the release added. 

What we know so far about the incident: CNN previously reported that on Jan. 8, the police department announced officers pulled over a driver for reckless driving the previous day.

“As officers approached the driver of the vehicle, a confrontation occurred and the suspect fled the scene on foot,” officials said in a statement posted on social media.

Officers pursued the suspect and again attempted to take him into custody when another confrontation occurred before the suspect was apprehended, according to police.

“Afterward, the suspect complained of having a shortness of breath, at which time an ambulance was called to the scene. The suspect was transported to St. Francis Hospital in critical condition,” officials said.

The man, identified as Nichols, died a few days later, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

Correction: This post has been updated with the correct identifications in the caption of the photo.

Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy will provide an update on the investigation into Tyre Nichols’ death Thursday afternoon, according to a news release. 

Tyre Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man, was hospitalized after his arrest on Jan. 7 and died three days later.

Mulroy will be joined by other members of the district attorney’s office at 3 p.m. ET.

Nearly three weeks ago, Tyre Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man, was hospitalized after a traffic stop in Memphis that resulted in a violent arrest and subsequent death of a driver.

Here’s what we know about the timeline of the incident, investigations from authorities and reaction from Nichols’ family:

Jan. 7: At approximately 8:30 p.m. local time, officers pulled over a vehicle for suspected reckless driving, according to a statement from Memphis police.

“A confrontation occurred” between officers and the vehicle’s driver – later identified as Nichols – who then fled on foot, according to Memphis police. Officers apprehended him and “another confrontation occurred,” resulting in Nichols’ arrest, police said.

An ambulance was called to the scene of the arrest after Nichols complained of shortness of breath, police said, and he was transported to a nearby hospital in critical condition.

Jan. 10: The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation announced Nichols had died due to injuries sustained in the “use-of-force incident with officers,” according to a statement.

Jan. 15: The officers involved were relieved of duty – a standard departmental procedure while an investigation into their use of force began, Memphis police said. The TBI and the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office were also enlisted to investigate.

Preliminary findings indicated the serious nature of the officers’ conduct during the stop, police said.

“Today, the department is serving notice to the officers involved of the impending administrative actions,” Chief Davis said in a statement.

Jan. 18: The Department of Justice said a civil rights investigation has been opened into the death of Nichols. Kevin G. Ritz, US Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee declined to provide further details.

Jan. 20: After its internal investigation, Memphis police identified and fired five officers — Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills, Jr., and Justin Smith — involved in the traffic stop due to their violation of multiple department policies.

Nichols family attorneys Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci called the firing of the five officers “the first step towards achieving justice for Tyre and his family.”

Two Memphis Fire Department employees who were part of Nichols’ “initial patient care” were also fired, department Public Information Officer Qwanesha Ward told CNN.

Jan. 23: After meeting with officials to watch the unreleased police video of the arrest, Nichols’ stepfather said: “What I saw on the video today was horrific. No father, mother should have to witness what I saw today.”

Attorney Romanucci said, “He was defenseless the entire time. He was a human piñata for those police officers. It was an unadulterated, unabashed, nonstop beating of this young boy for three minutes. That is what we saw in that video. Not only was it violent, it was savage.”

CNN’s Nick Valencia, Chris Boyette, Jamiel Lynch, Raja Razek, Eric Levenson, Dakin Andone, Theresa Waldrop, Steve Almasy, Sara Smart and Hannah Rabinowitz contributed to this report.

Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn Davis released remarks Wednesday night on the death of Tyre Nichols, ahead of reports that charges against the officers seen beating him on video are forthcoming and the body camera footage will soon be made public.

“This is not just a professional failing,” Davis said of the officers’ alleges conduct. “This is a failing of basic humanity toward another individual. This incident was heinous, reckless, and inhumane. And in the vein of transparency when the video is released in the coming days, you will see this for yourselves.”

The Memphis Police Department has fired five officers, all of whom are Black, for violating policies on excessive use of force, duty to intervene and duty to render aid, the department previously said.

Davis said that other Memphis police officers are still under investigation for department policy violations related to the incident but did not elaborate.

With the possible announcement of charges against the officers and impending release of the body camera footage, the police chief spoke to the reaction of the people of Memphis, urging that “in our outrage and frustration” people remain nonviolent.

“I expect our citizens to exercise their First Amendment right to protest to demand action and results. But we need to ensure our community is safe in this process,” Davis said. “None of this is a calling card for inciting violence or destruction on our community or against our citizens.”