Editor’s note: This article contains disturbing descriptions of violence.
() — City officials released more than an hour of footage Friday night showing the deadly confrontation between Tire Nichols and Memphis police officers earlier this month. The released materials included three body camera videos and one aerial surveillance video.The five officers involved in the arrest were fired after an internal investigation and face criminal charges, including manslaughter. Following the release of the video late Friday, two Shelby County Sheriff’s Office deputies have been suspended pending an investigation, Sheriff Floyd Bonner Jr. said in a statement.
According to the footage, the incident begins to unfold from 8:24 p.m. CT, when officers initially took Nichols into custody, until 9:02 p.m. CT, when an ambulance finally appears on camera to take Nichols to the hospital.
All times are approximate, but here’s a look at the timeline in the video:
8:24 p.m.: The body camera worn by an officer shows the first contact police had with Nichols on January 7. Several officers can be seen approaching Nichols’ vehicle, pulling firearms from it and yelling for Nichols to get out of the vehicle. “They’re going to blow your head off,” shouts an agent. They pull Nichols out of the car and force him to the ground amid aggressive yelling and threats of electric shock. “I’m just trying to go home,” says Nichols. “I’m not doing anything”.
8:25 p.m.: An officer sprays Nichols in the face with pepper spray. Nichols then struggles to his feet and begins to run from the policeman as another fires an electrical shock at him which apparently made no contact. Seven minutes later, another group of police officers announce on the radio that they see Nichols and begin to pursue him on foot.
In this frame from video released by the City of Memphis, Memphis Police Department officers pummel Tire Nichols on a street corner. (Credit: City of Memphis)
8:32 p.m.: From body camera footage, two officers can be seen on top of Nichols. Nichols is trying to speak, but one of the officers tells him to “shut the fuck up.” The officers continue to hit and spray Nichols, wrestling him to the ground and telling him to give them his hands. Nichols yells “mom” several times.
8:34 p.m.: An officer tells the other cops to be careful, then pulls out a collapsible police baton and yells at Nichols, “I’m going to beat you up. Give me your fucking hands.” A police surveillance camera mounted on top of a pole captured the officer striking Nichols multiple times with the baton. Nichols struggled to his feet as he was struck with the baton. Footage shows the officers Police officers continue to try to throw Nichols to the ground, punching him in the face repeatedly before Nichols falls to his knees.Two officers can be seen on top of Nichols as he is lying on the ground.
8:36 p.m.: More officers rush to the scene and two officers kick Nichols. A minute later, the officers finally move away from Nichols, who continues to lie on the ground, writhing occasionally, hands behind his back.
8:38 p.m.: The officers eventually drag Nichols up and back him against a police car, occasionally shining their flashlights on it as they go around the area. Two officers bump fists a minute later. At times, Nichols collapses on his side on the ground.
8:41 p.m.: Two doctors with equipment arrive at the scene. In footage from the body-worn camera, one person can be heard saying: “It’s going to be a while for an ambulance.” The footage shows 21 minutes elapse from when paramedics appear to arrive at 8:41 p.m. to when an ambulance finally appears on camera at 9:02 p.m.
