Memphis police officers found not guilty of all state charges in Tyre Nichols beating death

A Tennessee jury on Wednesday cleared three former Memphis police officers of all state charges stemming from the fatal beating of a Black motorist that sparked protests across the nation two years ago.

Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, and Justin Smith were found not guilty of second-degree murder, among other charges, in the death of Tyre Nichols.

Judge James Jones Jr. ordered the men immediately released. All three were overcome with emotion as they hugged each other and their lawyers in the Memphis courtroom.

Each of the three defendants faced a count of second degree murder, a count of aggravated assault, two counts of aggravated kidnapping, two counts of official misconduct and a count of official oppression. There were acquitted of all.

The former Memphis officers had already been facing time behind bars after they were convicted on some federal charges stemming from Nichols’ death.

Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy told reporters outside of the courtroom that he and his team are “obviously disappointed” by the verdict.

“We respect the jury’s decision, but we obviously strongly disagree with it,” Mulroy said. “We, in good faith, brought this case, and I am convinced to this day that we had compelling evidence that showed that there was proof for every element of every one of the offenses that we charged. The jury took a different view. That is, of course, their right. That’s the part of the decision.”

“Was I surprised that there wasn’t a single guilty verdict on any of the counts or any of the lesser included offenses, given the overwhelming evidence that I think that we presented? Yes, I was surprised,” Mulroy later said in response to a question from a reporter. “Do I have an explanation for it? No.”

Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci, lawyers for Nichols’ family, called the decision a “devastating miscarriage of justice” in a statement released after the verdict was read.

“Tyre’s life was stolen, and his family was denied the justice they so deeply deserve. We are outraged, and we know we are not alone,” Crump and Romanucci said in the statement.

A FedEx employee and aspiring photographer, Nichols was pulled over for alleged reckless driving at about 8:24 p.m. CST on Jan. 7, 2023.

“Get the f— out the f—-ing car!” an officer screamed while pulling Nichols out of his car.

“I didn’t do anything,” Nichols responded.

While he was on the pavement, officers could be seen using pepper spray and a Taser on Nichols before he fled on foot.

He ran toward his mother’s home, but pursuing officers eventually caught up with him about 80 yards short of that house, officials said.

Body camera footage showed Nichols being beaten and kicked while absorbing more pepper spray.

Nichols screamed “Mom!” as he was beaten during the second confrontation with police.

A police training officer and use-of-force expert testified for prosecutors and called the actions taken by officers against Nichols “unnecessary” and “excessive.”

The beating reflected a common law enforcement practice known as the “street tax” or “run tax” for abusing a suspect who flees, prosecutors have said.

Nichols’ death, three days after the beating, sparked protests against police brutality around the nation.

The victim’s parents were guests of the White House for President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address just weeks later.