Five police officers indicted in Memphis for the murder of Tire Nichols, a 29-year-old African-American

First modification: 01/27/2023 – 10:03

With our correspondent in Washington, Cristóbal Vásquez.

According to law enforcement, the suspect, Tire Nichols, was due to be pulled over for a traffic violation, but “fled” after a “confrontation.” He was eventually apprehended, but complained of shortness of breath. He was hospitalized and died three days later. According to the family’s lawyers, the police beat him beyond recognition.

The details of this arrest are still unclear, but the case is already before the courts. On Thursday, the five police officers, all African-American and since fired, were charged with murder, battery and kidnapping.

Accusing video

The video of the beating that lasted three minutes will be released this Friday night. In this you can see how police officers in Memphis, Tennessee, arrest Tire Nichols for recklessly driving his car on January 7.

According to lawyers for the victim’s family, the video shows how the police beat Nichols as if he were a human piñata. The video is expected to cause a lot of reactions and protests across the country.

“I don’t want us to burn our cities, destroy the streets, because that’s not what my son stood for. If you’re here for me and Tire, then you’re going to protest peacefully,” Tire Nichols’ mother said at a protest in Memphis.

Police departments across the country, including Los Angeles, Atlanta, Minneapolis, Nashville and New York, announced they already had plans in place in case of protests.

“The outrage is understandable.“

President Joe Biden issued a statement Thursday calling for calm as authorities prepare to release the footage Friday night.

“I join the Tire family in calling for peaceful protest,” the president said. “Outrage is understandable, but violence is never acceptable.”