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Attorney Ben Crump, Parents of Tyre Nichols Respond to Officer Emmitt Martin Changing to a Federal Guilty Plea

Nationally renowned civil rights and personal injury attorneys Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci, and the parents of Tyre Nichols, released the following statement in response to one of the officers responsible for Nichols’ death changing his federal plea to guilty...Read More

Tyre Nichols News

Attorney Ben Crump, Parents of Tyre Nichols Respond to Officer Emmitt Martin Changing to a Federal Guilty Plea

August 23, 2024

MEMPHIS, Tenn. –– Nationally renowned civil rights and personal injury attorneys Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci, and the parents of Tyre Nichols, released the following statement in response to one of the officers responsible for Nichols’ death changing his federal plea to guilty.

Tyre Nichols was critically injured and left unrecognizable after a traffic stop with Memphis police; he later died on Jan. 10. The five officers involved in the brutal treatment have been terminated and are being charged with second-degree murder; aggravated assault, acting in concert; two counts of aggravated kidnapping; two counts of official misconduct; and official oppression.

“The family is relieved that another officer has finally admitted his responsibility for this heinous act. His admission of guilt to federal charges is a crucial component to accountability, although state charges remain, in addition to our civil action. This is another step in a long road to justice for Tyre.

“Martin acted in concert with the others as part of a Scorpion unit culture of inflicting harm on citizens of Memphis. Martin pleading to his role and responsibility in Tyre’s murder is not enough. We urge the other officers involved in his death to confront their actions and take responsibility. We remain fiercely committed to holding all officers and the City of Memphis accountable for Tyre’s tragic and unnecessary death.”

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ABOUT BEN CRUMP LAW

Through his work, nationally renowned civil rights and personal injury attorney Ben Crump has spearheaded a legal movement to better protect the rights of marginalized citizens. He has led landscape-changing civil rights cases and represented clients in a wide range of areas including civil rights, personal injury, labor and employment, class actions, and more. Ben Crump Law is dedicated to holding the powerful accountable. For more information, visit bencrump.com.

Attorney Ben Crump, Parents of Tyre Nichols to Address Media and Provide an Update on the Case

August 22, 2024

MEMPHIS, Tenn. –– Nationally renowned civil rights and personal injury attorneys Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci will hold a news conference tomorrow with the parents of Tyre Nichols to provide an update and a response to the plea hearing for one of the officers responsible for his death.

Tyre Nicols was critically injured and left unrecognizable after a traffic stop with Memphis police; he died several days later on Jan. 10. The five officers involved in his brutal treatment have been terminated and are being charged with second-degree murder; aggravated assault, acting in concert; two counts of aggravated kidnapping; two counts of official misconduct; and official oppression.

WHO:
Family of Tyre Nichols
Attorney Ben Crump
Attorney Tony Romanucci

WHEN:
Friday, August 23, 2024, immediately following the hearing at 2 p.m. CT

WHERE:
U.S. District Court – Memphis
Odell Horton Federal Building
167 N Main St #242
Memphis, TN 38103

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ABOUT BEN CRUMP LAW

The Tyre Nichols Foundation to Host a Community Skatepark Design Charrette in Memory of Tyre Nichols

April 24, 2024

MEMPHIS, Tenn. –– The Tyre Nichols Foundation will host a Design Charrette on April 26 in honor of Tyre Nichols, who tragically died following a violent beating by five Memphis Police Officers on January 7, 2023.

For this event, members of the community are invited to participate in creating design concepts for the Tyre Nichols Memorial Park, which will be built in Memphis. This park will commemorate Nichols’ life while providing a space for everyone within the community.

WHO:
Family of Tyre Nichols
The Tyre Nichols Foundation
The Skatepark Project

WHEN:
Friday, April 26, 2024, from 6-8 pm CT

WHERE:
National Civil Rights Museum
450 Mulberry Street,
Memphis, Tennessee 38103

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ABOUT BEN CRUMP LAW

ABOUT THE TYRE NICHOLS FOUNDATION

The Tyre Nichols Foundation will continue his legacy by teaching social justice awareness, providing the youth with creative resources, and empowering the community with opportunities while striving to create change.

ABOUT THE SKATEPARK PROJECT

Founded by Tony Hawk, The Skatepark Project (TSP) is a nonprofit organization working to increase access to outdoor recreation and free play through the creation of safe and inclusive community skateparks. TSP provides the resources, advocacy skills, grants and fellowship programs that guide skaters in creating their community skateparks, from conception through construction. This is a collaborative process between skaters and city authorities to invest in capital improvements that will enrich a community for decades.

The Skatepark Project’s grant programs have awarded over $11 million to help fund nearly 700 public skateparks in all 50 States, enjoyed by an estimated 9 million people annually. The organization’s International Program has provided technical and financial support to assist youth through the Skateistan educational programs in Afghanistan, Cambodia, and South Africa.

Tyre Nichols’ Family Responds to Tennessee Legislature Passing Bill That Would Walk Back Critical Police Reforms

March 14, 2024

State bill will nullify ordinances passed in Memphis in response to Tyre Nichols’ death

MEMPHIS, Tenn. –– The family of Tyre Nichols responded to Tennessee senators voting to pass SB2572. The proposed state legislation that will be sent to the Governor Bill Lee’s desk threatens to reverse and override critical municipal police reforms enacted in response to Tyre Nichols’ tragic death.

Mr. and Mrs. Wells met with State Senator Brent Taylor to ask him to delay the vote so that they could meet with local government and law enforcement officials and attempt to find a compromise. Mr. and Mrs. Wells were unable to get through to Sen. Brent, as he brought the bill up for a vote shortly after.

RowVaughn and Rodney Wells released the following statement:

“The city of Memphis worked tirelessly to get ordinances passed in Tyre’s name, so this bill hurts us deeply. Local Memphis leaders tried to speak with the state legislators pushing for this legislation, but they were brushed off –– as were we.

“This legislation was clearly targeted to take down the ordinances named after our son, and while we miss him dearly, this is about so much more than Tyre. There are many other Memphians that have experienced pretextual stops with police that ended with violence. Our goal was to create something in Memphis that could protect our community, but even after doing so, our success is fleeting.

“We wish that instead of this political sabotage, we could have come together to discuss what is working and what isn’t. Compromise could have happened, but we were never given the opportunity to try.”

If signed by the Governor, the legislation would nullify ordinances passed in Memphis in response to Tyre Nichols’ death. The ordinances passed were:

Data Transparency Act: Requires that traffic data is published in real time every month and that officers collect that data during traffic stops.
Tyre Nichols Driving Equality Act: Prevents the 5 most common pretextual stops from being used as a 1st violation by police to pull someone over. This bill was named after Tyre Nichols because a pretextual stop led to his death.
Unmarked car usage: Requires that unmarked cars not be used for traffic stops.

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ABOUT BEN CRUMP LAW

About Romanucci & Blandin, LLC

Romanucci & Blandin is a Chicago-based national trial practice committed to fighting for victims of negligence, abuse and wrongful death. For 25 years, we have secured more than $850 million in verdicts and settlements for our clients – many for millions of dollars and others record-setting awards. Our experience ranges from mass shootings, civil rights and police misconduct to medical malpractice, sexual abuse, motor vehicle accidents or workplace injury cases involving individual or institutional negligence. Romanucci & Blandin is a valuable legal resource to individuals and groups of people who have been injured by others’ wrongdoing. Referring attorneys and clients say several factors differentiate our firm: Our record of success, depth of experience, talented and dedicated legal team, tireless preparation and strategic use of communications to fight for the rights of those whose lives have been changed forever. We are different from other personal injury firms in that our work does not stop when a verdict or settlement is secured. We are often inspired by our clients’ experiences and commit resources to create change in our communities. For more information about Romanucci & Blandin, please visit www.rblaw.net or call (312) 458-1000.

Tyre Nichols’ Family Urges Tennessee Senate to Drop Bill That Would Walk Back Critical Police Reforms

March 7, 2024

SB2572 would nullify ordinances passed in Memphis in response to Tyre Nichols’ death

MEMPHIS, Tenn. –– The family of Tyre Nichols is urging Tennessee senators to vote ‘no’ on SB2572 as it moves towards passage, amplifying their calls for the Tennessee Senate to abandon the proposed state legislation that threatens to reverse and override critical municipal police reforms enacted in response to Tyre Nichols’ tragic death.

The Tennessee House passed their portion on Thursday, ironically after bill sponsor Rep. John Gillespie (R- Bartlett) personally told Tyre’s parents RowVaughn and Rodney Wells Wednesday not to come to Nashville because he did not plan to bring the bill to the floor.

In their ongoing efforts to combat SB2572, the family of Tyre Nichols issued the following statement:

“We continue to urge the Tennessee Senate to reject SB2572 and preserve the essential police reforms that honor the memory of Tyre Nichols and serve to protect communities across our state. The proposed legislation represents a dangerous step back in the fight for accountability, transparency, and justice within law enforcement. We are moving dangerously backwards with this legislation and others like it, including those that eliminate DEI policies and efforts that were created in the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder.

“The Memphis ordinances, which we view as part of Tyre’s legacy, were crafted with the goal of preventing future tragedies and fostering trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve. SB2572 not only undermines these efforts, but also disregards the collective voice of the people who tirelessly advocated for change.

“We call on Tennessee lawmakers to live up to the oath of their offices by prioritizing the safety and well-being of all citizens –– they must reject SB2572 and uphold the integrity of our local police reform ordinances. Our resolve remains unwavering, and we will continue to fight for justice in Tyre’s name –– we hope our state senators will do the same.”

If passed, SB2572 would nullify ordinances passed in Memphis in response to Tyre Nichols’ death. The ordinances passed were:

Data Transparency Act: Requires that traffic data is published in real time every month and that officers collect that data during traffic stops.
Tyre Nichols Driving Equality Act: Prevents the 5 most common pretextual stops from being used as a 1st violation by police to pull someone over. This bill was named after Tyre Nichols because a pretextual stop led to his death.
Unmarked car usage: Requires that unmarked cars not be used for traffic stops.

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ABOUT BEN CRUMP LAW

About Romanucci & Blandin, LLC

Legal Team for Tyre Nichols Releases Statement on DOJ Guidance for Specialized Police Units

January 10, 2024

MEMPHIS, Tenn. –– Nationally renowned civil rights and personal injury attorneys Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci released a statement on the guidance announced today by the U.S. Department of Justice regarding the use of specialized units in law enforcement agencies. One year ago this month, Tyre Nichols lost his life to a brutal beating by a specialized unit in Memphis, dubbed the SCORPION Unit, which has since been disbanded.

The guidance from the DOJ looks at four main stages of specialized units: formation, personnel selection and supervision, management and accountability, and community engagement.

Attorneys Crump and Romanucci released the following statement:

“We, along with the family of Tyre Nichols, are thankful for the diligent work done by the Department of Justice, and specifically Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta, in addressing this matter. We hope this guidance provides police departments with a clear outline of when these specialized units may be appropriate, when they most certainly are not appropriate, and how to properly staff them with officers who will properly execute their explicit duties.

“We hope police departments and chiefs nationwide will strictly adhere to this guidance. The unjustified death of Tyre Nichols and the circumstances surrounding that tragedy will not soon be forgotten. As we work to make this country a safer place for everyone, it is critical that we remember our history and learn from it.”

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ABOUT BEN CRUMP LAW
Through his work, nationally renowned civil rights and personal injury attorney Ben Crump has spearheaded a legal movement to better protect the rights of marginalized citizens. He has led landscape-changing civil rights cases and represented clients in a wide range of areas including civil rights, personal injury, labor and employment, class actions, and more. Ben Crump Law is dedicated to holding the powerful accountable. For more information, visit bencrump.com.

About Romanucci & Blandin, LLC
Romanucci & Blandin is a Chicago-based national trial practice committed to fighting for victims of negligence, abuse and wrongful death. For 25 years, we have secured more than $850 million in verdicts and settlements for our clients – many for millions of dollars and others record-setting awards. Our experience ranges from mass shootings, civil rights and police misconduct to medical malpractice, sexual abuse, motor vehicle accidents or workplace injury cases involving individual or institutional negligence. Romanucci & Blandin is a valuable legal resource to individuals and groups of people who have been injured by others’ wrongdoing. Referring attorneys and clients say several factors differentiate our firm: Our record of success, depth of experience, talented and dedicated legal team, tireless preparation and strategic use of communications to fight for the rights of those whose lives have been changed forever. We are different from other personal injury firms in that our work does not stop when a verdict or settlement is secured. We are often inspired by our clients’ experiences and commit resources to create change in our communities. For more information about Romanucci & Blandin, please visit www.rblaw.net or call (312) 458-1000.

Family of Tyre Nichols to Hold Candlelight Vigil to Commemorate 1-Year Anniversary of His Death at the Hands of Memphis Police

January 5, 2024

MEMPHIS, Tenn. –– As the one-year mark approaches since the heartbreaking loss of Tyre Nichols –– a beloved member of the Memphis community –– individuals, activists, and supporters will gather for two solemn candlelight vigils. The Memphis vigil will be held on January 7 at 7 pm CT. Simultaneously, a vigil will take place in his hometown of Sacramento at the Tyre Nichols Skate Park at 5 pm PST to honor his memory and call for justice.

Tyre Nichols tragically lost his life following a violent beating by five Memphis Police Officers on January 7, 2023. The candlelight vigils aim to provide solace to Nichols’ family, friends, and all who have been affected by this profound loss and to honor Tyre’s memory and legacy. During the vigils, attendees will come together to reflect on Nichols’ life, share memories, and stand united in demanding accountability and justice. Candles will be lit in his honor, and as a symbol of hope and remembrance.

Memphis, Tenn. Vigil
Date: January 7, 2024
Time: 7 pm CT
Where: Castlegate Ln & Ross Rd
Memphis, TN 38141

Sacramento, Calif. Vigil
Date: January 7, 2024
Time: 5 pm PT
Where: Tyre Nichols Skate Park
200 Regency Park Cir.
Sacramento, CA 95835

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Legal Team for Tyre Nichols Releases Statement on One-Year Anniversary of Beating Death of Tyre Nichols

January 5, 2024

MEMPHIS, Tenn. –– Nationally renowned civil rights and personal injury attorneys Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci released the following statement on the one-year anniversary of the beating death of Tyre Nichols by Memphis Police Department officers:

“It is with heavy hearts that we approach the one-year commemoration of the horrific beating death of Tyre Nichols by members of the Memphis Police Department. What happened on January 7, 2023, was an unspeakable and inhumane tragedy that needlessly took the life of a gentle and peaceful person who was loved by so many. We extend our continued condolences to his beautiful family. We also see this weekend as one that provides hope, as the family is touched by the many gestures in Memphis and around the world to remember Tyre’s generous spirit.

“Our legal team is fiercely committed to fighting for justice for Tyre and vigorously restate our assertions that the Scorpion Unit officers involved acted at the direction of a Memphis Police Department policy that violated the civil rights of innocent civilians and caused needless pain to many. Work continues on the civil litigation.

“Additionally, we are deeply disturbed by the recent revelation by former Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland that he actively avoided signing and enforcing the Driving Equality Act in honor of Tyre Nichols that the Memphis City Council passed in Spring 2023, directing meaningful reform in how Memphis Police should conduct and report traffic stops. We will hold Mayor Paul Young accountable to his pledge to enact these reforms. These types of commonsense changes to police policies and practices are essential to establishing trust between communities and police. Our team has actively called for consistent, national systemic police reform since the murder of George Floyd. Had changes to law enforcement policies been enacted in 2020, we strongly believe Tyre Nichols would be alive today. ”

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Attorney Ben Crump and Parents of Tyre Nichols Call for Federal Civil Rights Charges in Killing of Ronald Greene

September 26, 2023

FARMERVILLE, La. –– Nationally renowned civil rights and personal injury attorney Ben Crump, the family of Ronald Greene, and the parents of Tyre Nichols will hold a news conference on Wednesday, Sept. 27, calling for federal civil rights charges in the killing of Ronald Greene. Family of Tyre Nichols will call on the Department of Justice to charge the white officers who beat Ronald Greene to death just as they charged the Black officers who beat Tyre Nichols to death.

Greene died following a 2019 arrest, in which five Louisiana law enforcement officers beat, stunned, and dragged him while his ankles were in shackles. One officer was seen in body camera footage putting his foot on Greene’s back and forcing him to the ground, where he laid face-down in the dirt for more than nine minutes and multiple officers could be seen punching him. Officers involved in the arrest have faced state charges ranging from negligent homicide to malfeasance.

WHO:
Family of Ronald Greene
RowVaughn and Rodney Wells, mother and step-father of Tyre Nichols
Attorney Ben Crump
Tamika Mallory, Until Freedom

WHEN:
Wednesday, September 27, 2023, at 12:30 pm CT

WHERE:
Louisiana State Capitol
900 N. 3rd St.
Baton Rouge, LA 70802

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Attorneys Ben Crump, Antonio Romanucci, and Family of Tyre Nichols to Respond to Stay Issued in Civil Proceedings

September 22, 2023

MEMPHIS, Tenn. –– Nationally renowned civil rights and personal injury attorneys Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci released the following statement in response to a judge’s Thursday order to issue a limited stay on the civil proceedings on behalf of the estate of Tyre Nichols:

“As the legal team honored to represent the family of Tyre Nichols, we are satisfied with Thursday’s ruling to issue a limited stay on our civil proceedings. This ruling will enable the Nichols family to seek justice and accountability which has been the goal ever since our nation watched the atrocities in Memphis unfold. We will be watching the criminal proceedings with great interest as that trial will precede the civil one. We want to set the record straight that the 5 indicted officers absolutely will still face accountability in civil court, just not until sometime after the criminal proceedings are complete. We remain fully and fiercely committed to justice for Tyre.”

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Attorneys Ben Crump, Antonio Romanucci, and Family of Tyre Nichols to Respond to Federal Charges Against Officers Involved in His Death

September 12, 2023

Crump and Nichols’ family will hold a 5 pm CT news conference

MEMPHIS, Tenn. –– Nationally renowned civil rights and personal injury attorney Ben Crump will hold a news conference today on the announcement by Attorney General Merrick Garland that the five officers (Justin Smith, Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills Jr) have been indicted by a federal grand jury for their role in the death of Tyre Nichols.

Attorneys Crump and Romanucci have released the following statement:

“The news today from the United States Justice Department that there will be criminal accountability on the federal level for Tyre’s death gives his family hope as they continue to grieve his loss and inspire change in his honor. We applaud AG Garland and Assistant AG Clarke for their tireless efforts to create federal accountability for these officers who were selected to be part of the Memphis Police Department’s SCORPION unit and savagely ended Tyre’s life, setting a critical precedent for accountability and justice.”

WHO:
Family of Tyre Nichols
Attorney Ben Crump
Attorney David Mendelson
Retired Judge Ernestine Dorse

WHEN:
Tuesday, September 12, 2023, at 5 pm CT

WHERE:
Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church
70 N. Bellevue Boulevard
Memphis, TN 38104

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Attorney Ben Crump and Family of Darryl Tyree Williams to Address Autopsy Findings

June 8, 2023

The autopsy determined the manner of death was a homicide

RALEIGH, N.C. –– Nationally renowned civil rights and personal injury attorney Ben Crump, attorney Dawn Blagrove with Emancipate NC, and attorney Kenneth Abbarno, who represent the family of Darryl Tyree Williams, will hold a news conference with the family to respond to the autopsy findings of the NC Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

Darryl Tyree Williams died on Jan. 17, about an hour after a taser was deployed on him multiple times by Raleigh Police Department officers. Williams told officers as they were deploying the taser that he had heart problems and pleaded for them to stop.

Six officers are on administrative leave and footage from the incident was released.

WHO:
Family of Darryl Tyree Williams
Attorney Ben Crump
Attorney Dawn Blagrove, Executive Director of Emancipate NC
Attorney Kenneth Abbarno

WHEN:
Friday, June 9, at 11:30 am ET

WHERE:
Mount Peace Baptist Church
1601 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Raleigh, NC 27610

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Attorneys Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci Announce Birthday Events for Tyre Nichols in Memphis

June 2, 2023

Tyre Nichols would have been 30 years old on June 5

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — National civil rights and personal injury attorneys Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci have released birthday event details honoring Tyre Nichols in Memphis for Monday, on what would have been Tyre’s 30th birthday. The event will include music, food trucks, poetry, and more.

Tyre died on Jan. 10, days after he was involved in a traffic stop conducted by the Memphis Police Department’s Scorpion Unit that left him critically injured. Nichols fled the traffic stop scene, and the police began to chase him. Police brutalized him to the point of being unrecognizable.

Officers were indicted by a Grand Jury and charged with second-degree murder, aggravated assault, two counts of aggravated kidnapping, two counts of official misconduct, and official oppression on Jan. 26.

Attorneys for the family released the following statement:
“June 5th should be a day of great celebration for Tyre Nichols and his extended family on what would have been his 30th birthday, but instead we use the day as a recommitment to justice in his name. We, along with his family, are dedicated to creating a legacy of accountability and change, so that not one citizen –– especially no Black or Brown citizen –– experiences what Tyre did: senseless, traumatic and tragic treatment by officers sworn to protect and serve.”

WHO:
Family of Tyre Nichols
Attorney Ben Crump
Attorney Antonio Romanucci
Local activists

WHEN:
Monday, June 5 at 6 pm CT

WHERE:
Fourth Bluff Park
N. Front Street
Memphis, TN 38103
Front Street will be blocked off and turned into a skate park for the evening

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About Ben Crump Law
Nationally renowned civil rights and personal injury attorney Ben Crump and his national network of specialized attorneys have spearheaded a legal movement to better protect the rights of marginalized citizens. He has led landscape-changing civil rights cases and represented clients in a wide range of areas including civil rights, personal injury, labor and employment, class actions, and more. Ben Crump Law is dedicated to holding the powerful accountable. For more, visit BenCrump.com or call (800) 935-8111

Attorneys Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci Comment on Tyre Nichols Autopsy Release

May 4, 2023

MEMPHIS, Tenn. –– Nationally renowned civil rights and personal injury attorneys Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci have issued a statement following the release of the official autopsy results of Tyre Nichols by the Shelby County Medical Examiner.

Attorneys for the family issued the following statement:

“Video of this killing stunned the world, and we are once again stunned to see it put into words by the medical examiner. Tyre suffered blunt force injuries to the head, neck, torso, and extremities by Memphis Police. The utter brutality of the deadly beating that Tyre suffered is once again highlighted in these official autopsy results – no part of this young man was spared as he was tortured to death by these officers.”

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Attorneys Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci Comment on Tyre Nichols Autopsy Briefing

May 3, 2023

MEMPHIS, Tenn. –– Nationally renowned civil rights and personal injury attorneys Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci have issued a statement following the family of Tyre Nichols being briefed on his autopsy results by Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy.

Attorneys for the family issued the following statement:

“The legal team representing the family of Tyre Nichols acknowledges the release of the medical examiner’s report, the contents of which are highly consistent with our own reporting back in January of this year. We know now what we knew then. Tyre Nichols died from blunt force trauma and the manner of death was homicide. The official autopsy report further propels our commitment to seeking justice for this senseless tragedy.”

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Attorneys Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci File Landmark Civil Lawsuit for Police Beating Death of Tyre Nichols

February 19, 2023

Lawyers also suing Memphis Police for intentional infliction of emotional distress for lying to Tyre’s mother

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Civil rights attorneys Ben Crump, Antonio Romanucci, and local counsel on behalf of the family of Tyre Nichols have filed a landmark lawsuit against the City of Memphis, the Memphis Police Department, and officers and individuals involved in the January 7, 2023, traffic stop and brutal beating of Mr. Nichols that resulted in his death on January 10, 2023. Read the filed complaint here.

The abhorrent and reprehensible conduct of the City of Memphis’ unqualified, untrained, and unsupervised police officers, acting under the color of law and pursuant to officially sanctioned, unconstitutional Department policies and practices was captured on multiple video cameras.

The innocent victim was a 29-year-old father, on his way home to have dinner with his parents. The disturbingly tragic events of the night were created and set in motion over a year prior, when the Memphis City Council appointed Cerelyn Davis as the new Police Chief. The savage beating of Tyre Nichols was the direct and foreseeable product of the unconstitutional policies, practices, customs, and decisions of the City of Memphis and Chief Davis. Her now disbanded police unit carried a name that will forever live in infamy for the devastation and carnage it caused: SCORPION (Street Crimes Operation to Restore Peace In Our Neighborhoods). Rather than “restore peace” in Memphis neighborhoods, SCORPION brought terror. In reality, it was an officially sanctioned gang of inexperienced, hyper-aggressive police officers turned loose on the Memphis community without any oversight to strike without warning and, many times, without any valid constitutional basis. Consistent with the directives received from Chief Davis herself, SCORPION Officers carried out untold Fourth Amendment violations with a focus on Black men living in Memphis.

The basis for SCORPION Unit officers stopping Tyre’s car on January 7, 2023, has never been substantiated. Two SCORPION officers baselessly stopped Tyre’s car, violently dragged him out of the vehicle, and forcefully apprehended him without ever articulating a reason for the stop. As the SCORPION officers escalated the situation with harsh and disgusting profanity and hostility, Tyre attempted to de-escalate with measured communication and calmness. Upon recognizing these officers were operating with raging aggression and unjustified force, Tyre fled the scene toward his home where he lived with his parents. What transpired next was a relentless and brutal beating by a group of officers. Just feet from his parents and the safety of his home, five SCORPION officers tracked Tyre down and deployed their sting in the form of repeated punches, kicks, and pepper spray to a non-resistant, restrained young man shouting for his mother while they unleashed their physical hostility upon him. When Tyre fell to the ground, he was lifted back up so that officers could continue to tee off with more punches, strikes, kicks, and chemical sprays—all of this with full knowledge that their body-worn cameras were recording every second. Such a ruthless and brutal beating could only be carried out by officers without any fear of discipline or intervention and with a hardened, defined shield of impunity protecting them from on high. To be sure, there was never any attempt of intervention by any officer or Memphis Police Department official at any point as Tyre remained defenseless through the onslaught. When the torrential beating ended, Tyre’s body was propped up against the police car to be displayed like a battered prize of a trophy hunt for the countless Memphis officials that would arrive on the scene. Pictures would be taken, jokes would be made, and medical care would be withheld for over twenty minutes as Tyre’s body lay devastated from the beating. Indeed, he was dying, and three days later succumbed to his injuries.

The federal lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, Western Division. The plaintiff is RowVaughn Wells, who brings this case as both Administratrix Ad Litem of The Estate of Tyre Deandre Nichols and for herself individually. The defendants are The City of Memphis; Police Chief Cerelyn Davis; Emmitt Martin III, Demetrius Haley, Justin Smith, Desmond Mills, Jr., Tadarrius Bean, Preston Hemphill, and DeWayne Smith who were participants in individual capacities as Memphis Police Officers, and Robert Long, JaMichael Sandridge and Michelle Whitaker for their individual roles as Memphis Fire Department employees.

The Plaintiffs are represented by Attorneys Ben Crump of Ben Crump Law; Antonio M. Romanucci, Bhavani K. Raveendran, Bryce T. Hensley, and Sarah M. Raisch of Romanucci & Blandin; and local counsel David Mendelson and Benjamin Wachtel of Mendelson Law Firm, Lashonda Council-Rogers of Council & Associates, and Retired Judge Earnestine Hunt Dorse.
The complaint states that Mr. Nichols was deprived, under color of state law, of his clearly established rights as secured by the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution, as well as state law. In addition to the individual violations, the complaint also highlights systemic issues relating to improper policies, procedures, hiring, training, and supervision by the City of Memphis.

Further, the complaint alleges intentional, reckless, and negligent infliction of emotional distress and fraudulent misrepresentation by Memphis Police Department Lieutenant DeWayne Smith for his conscious and deliberate actions with the explicit intent to deceive, lie or manipulate RowVaughn Wells for telling her in their initial conversation on January 7, 2023, that: Tyre was driving under the influence with no evidence or support; Tyre was intoxicated with no evidence or support: lying about the reasons why Tyre was being arrested; withholding reasons why Tyre was being arrested; lying about Tyre’s medical condition; failing to say Tyre was around the corner from her home on the verge of dying; and/or withholding Tyre’s medical condition from his mother.

The complaint is seeking compensatory, special, and punitive damages and costs as defined under federal law in an amount to be determined by a jury.

“How does this horrific and unconstitutional treatment of Black men and women by law enforcement continue to happen,” said Attorney Ben Crump. “Tyre’s condition in the hospital can be likened to that of Emmitt Till who was also beaten unrecognizable by a lynch mob. But, Tyre’s lynch mob was dressed in department sweatshirts and vests, sanctioned by the entities that supplied them. Please, Memphis. Please, America, we must hold these people accountable and create meaningful change once and for all. We can not let another seventy years go by.”

“Far from being the result of the actions of five rogue police officers, the events of January 7, 2023, were the culmination of a Department-sanctioned rampage by the unqualified, untrained, and unsupervised SCORPION Unit carrying out an unconstitutional mandate without any fear of retribution or consequence because of acquiescence and acceptance of tolerated unconstitutional conduct that had been fostered since the SCORPION Unit’s inception. Tyre Nichols should never have been stopped that day, and under no circumstances should he have been brutally beaten as an unarmed civilian who was subdued and no threat to officers. This type of policing culture is a cancer in our communities and must be seen for what it is – and stopped completely across the country,” said Attorney Antonio M. Romanucci.

On January 10, 2023, Tyre ultimately died from his injuries as a direct result of the policies and practices of the City of Memphis, which were the moving force behind the SCORPION Officers’ unconstitutional stop, excessive use of force, and failure to intervene in the excessive use of force. Those policies and practices are:

The City of Memphis’ Official Policy of Violating the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution.
The City of Memphis’ Custom of Tolerance for Violations of the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution.
The City of Memphis’ Failure to Train its Officers in the SCORPION Unit on the bounds of the Constitution and the Fourth Amendment.
The City of Memphis’ Failure to Supervise its Officers in the SCORPION Unit.

Counts in the Complaint Include:

COUNT I—42 U.S.C. § 1983—Monell Claim—Official Policy
Plaintiff v. Chief Cerelyn Davis, in her official capacity (City of Memphis)
COUNT II—42 U.S.C. § 1983—Monell Claim—Custom of Tolerance
Plaintiff v. Chief Cerelyn Davis, in her official capacity (City of Memphis)
COUNT III—42 U.S.C. § 1983—Monell Claim—Failure to Train
Plaintiff v. Chief Cerelyn Davis, in her official capacity (City of Memphis)
COUNT IV—42 U.S.C. § 1983—Monell Claim—Failure to Supervise
Plaintiff v. Chief Cerelyn Davis, in her official capacity (City of Memphis)
COUNT V—42 U.S.C. § 1983—Fourth Amendment Violation: Unreasonable Stop
Plaintiff v. Emmitt Martin III, in his individual capacity
COUNT VI—42 U.S.C. § 1983—Fourth Amendment Violation: Excessive Force
Plaintiff v. Emmitt Martin III, in his individual capacity
COUNT VII—42 U.S.C. § 1983—Fourth Amendment Violation: Failure to Intervene to Prevent Excessive Force
Plaintiff v. Emmitt Martin III, in his individual capacity
COUNT VIII—42 U.S.C. § 1983—Fourth Amendment Violation: Unreasonable Stop
Plaintiff v. Demetrius Haley, in his individual capacity
COUNT IX—42 U.S.C. § 1983—Fourth Amendment Violation: Excessive Force
Plaintiff v. Demetrius Haley, in his individual capacity
COUNT X—42 U.S.C. § 1983—Fourth Amendment Violation: Failure to Intervene to Prevent Excessive Force
Plaintiff v. Demetrius Haley, in his individual capacity
COUNT XI—42 U.S.C. § 1983—Fourth Amendment Violation: Excessive Force
Plaintiff v. Justin Smith, in his individual capacity
COUNT XII—42 U.S.C. § 1983—Fourth Amendment Violation: Failure to Intervene to Prevent Excessive Force
Plaintiff v. Justin Smith, in his individual capacity
COUNT XIII—42 U.S.C. § 1983—Fourth Amendment Violation: Excessive Force
Plaintiff v. Desmond Mills, Jr., in his individual capacity
COUNT XIV—42 U.S.C. § 1983—Fourth Amendment Violation: Failure to Intervene to Prevent Excessive Force
Plaintiff v. Desmond Mills, Jr., in his individual capacity
COUNT XV—42 U.S.C. § 1983—Fourth Amendment Violation: Excessive Force
Plaintiff v. Tadarrius Bean, in his individual capacity
COUNT XVI—42 U.S.C. § 1983—Fourth Amendment Violation: Failure to Intervene to Prevent Excessive Force
Plaintiff v. Tadarrius Bean, in his individual capacity
COUNT XVII—42 U.S.C. § 1983—Fourth Amendment Violation: Unreasonable Stop
Plaintiff v. Preston Hemphill, in his individual capacity
COUNT XVIII—42 U.S.C. § 1983—Fourth Amendment Violation: Excessive Force
Plaintiff v. Preston Hemphill, in his individual capacity
COUNT XIX—42 U.S.C. § 1983—Fourth Amendment Violation: Failure to Intervene to Prevent Excessive Force
Plaintiff v. Preston Hemphill, in his individual capacity
COUNT XX—42 U.S.C. § 1983—Fourteenth Amendment Violation of Deliberate Indifference to Serious Medical Needs
Plaintiff v. Robert Long, in his individual capacity
COUNT XXI—42 U.S.C. § 1983—Fourteenth Amendment Violation of Deliberate Indifference to Serious Medical Needs
Plaintiff v. JaMichael Sandridge, in his individual capacity
COUNT XXII—42 U.S.C. § 1983—Fourteenth Amendment Violation of Deliberate Indifference to Serious Medical Needs
Plaintiff v. Michelle Whitaker, in her individual capacity
COUNT XXIII— Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress
Plaintiff v. DeWayne Smith, Individually and as Agent of the City of Memphis
COUNT XXIV— Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress
Plaintiff v. DeWayne Smith, Individually and as Agent of the City of Memphis
COUNT XXV— Fraudulent Misrepresentation
Plaintiff v. DeWayne Smith, Individually and as Agent of the City of Memphis

RowVaughn Wells is demanding a civil trial by jury as is her right under the Seventh Amendment to the United States Constitution and Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 38.

###

About Ben Crump Law

Nationally renowned civil rights and personal injury attorney Ben Crump and his national network of specialized attorneys have spearheaded a legal movement to better protect the rights of marginalized citizens. He has led landscape-changing civil rights cases and represented clients in a wide range of areas including civil rights, personal injury, labor and employment, class actions, and more. Ben Crump Law is dedicated to holding the powerful accountable. For more, visit BenCrump.com or call (800) 935-8111.

About Romanucci & Blandin, LLC

Romanucci & Blandin is a Chicago-based national trial practice committed to fighting for victims of negligence, abuse, and wrongful death. For 25 years, we have secured more than $850 million in verdicts and settlements for our clients – many for millions of dollars and other record-setting awards. Our experience ranges from mass shootings, civil rights, and police misconduct to medical malpractice, sexual abuse, motor vehicle accidents, or workplace injury cases involving individual or institutional negligence. Romanucci & Blandin is a valuable legal resource to individuals and groups of people who have been injured by others’ wrongdoing. Referring attorneys and clients say several factors differentiate our firm: Our record of success, depth of experience, talented and dedicated legal team, tireless preparation, and strategic use of communications to fight for the rights of those whose lives have been changed forever. We are different from other personal injury firms in that our work does not stop when a verdict or settlement is secured. We are often inspired by our clients’ experiences and commit resources to create change in our communities. For more information about Romanucci & Blandin, please visit www.rblaw.net or call (312) 458-1000.

Attorneys Ben Crump, Antonio Romanucci to File Landmark Lawsuit for Death of Tyre Nichols

February 16, 2023

Lawyers also suing Memphis police for intentional infliction of emotional distress for lying to his mother

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Civil rights and personal injury attorneys Ben Crump, Antonio Romanucci, and local counsel, retired Judge Earnestine Hunt Dorse, will announce the filing of a civil lawsuit against the City of Memphis, Memphis Police Department, and individual officers for the January 2023 death of Tyre Nichols. The 29-year-old father was killed after a pretextual traffic stop and a brutal beating by Memphis Police Officers.

WHO:
Members of Tyre Nichols’ family
Attorney Ben Crump
Attorney Antonio Romanucci
Judge Earnestine Hunt Dorse

WHEN:
April 19, 2023
Noon CT

WHERE:
Outside Circuit Court Clerk’s Office
140 Adams Avenue
Memphis, Tennessee 38103

###

About Ben Crump Law

About Romanucci & Blandin, LLC

Romanucci & Blandin is a Chicago-based national trial practice committed to fighting for victims of negligence, abuse, and wrongful death arising from police misconduct, corporate negligence, civil rights actions, medical malpractice, mass torts, and class actions. For the last 25 years, the firm has been widely recognized for representing plaintiffs in numerous practice areas including mass shootings, workers’ compensation, pharmaceuticals, civil rights, police misconduct, excessive force, aviation, product liability, and premises liability. For more information, please visit www.rblaw.net or call (312) 458-1000.

Attorney Ben Crump, Parents of Tyre Nichols to Address Media Following Arraignment of Officers Responsible for His Death

February 16, 2023

MEMPHIS, Tenn. –– Nationally renowned civil rights and personal injury attorneys Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci have announced a news conference that will be held tomorrow with the parents of Tyre Nichols to provide reactions following the arraignment of officers responsible for his death.

Tyre Nicols was critically injured and left unrecognizable after a traffic stop with Memphis police; he died on Jan. 10. The five officers involved in the stop and brutality have been terminated and are being charged with second-degree murder; aggravated assault, and act in concert; two counts of aggravated kidnapping; two counts of official misconduct; and official oppression.

Two additional Memphis Police officers were relieved of duty and three Memphis Fire Department employees were fired. Most recently, two Shelby County Sheriff’s Office deputies were suspended for five days without pay for violating regulations.

The news conference will also be streamed on Instagram Live through Attorney Crump’s page @attorneycrump.

WHO:
RowVaughn Wells
Rodney Wells
Attorney Ben Crump
Hon. Earnestine Hunt Dorse, (Retired)
Van Turner, President of NAACP Memphis Branch

WHEN:
Friday, February 17, 2023, immediately following the hearing

WHERE:
Shelby County Criminal Justice Center
201 Poplar Ave
Memphis, TN 38103

###

ABOUT BEN CRUMP LAW

Parents of Tyre Nichols and Attorney Ben Crump Confirm Vice President Kamala Harris Will Attend the Memorial

January 31, 2023

MEMPHIS, Tenn. –– Nationally renowned civil rights and personal injury attorneys Ben Crump and the parents of Tyre Nichols have issued a statement following the announcement that Vice President Kamala Harris will attend the funeral of Tyre Nichols on Wednesday.

Attorney Crump issued the following statement:

“This morning, Ms. RowVaughn Wells, Mr. Rodney Wells, and I spoke on the phone with Vice President Kamala Harris for over thirty minutes about the tragic loss of Tyre. Vice President Harris and Ms. Wells spoke exclusively, and during this emotional time, the Vice President was able to console Ms. Wells and even help her smile. Tyre’s parents invited Vice President Harris to the funeral tomorrow and were pleased that she accepted their invitation. Mr. and Mrs. Wells are grateful for Vice President Harris reaching out to them during this heartbreaking time and for her sensitivity on the call.”

###

ABOUT BEN CRUMP LAW

Funeral Services for Tyre Nichols to be Held With a Eulogy by Rev. Al Sharpton and Call-to-Action by Attorney Ben Crump

January 31, 2023

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — National civil rights and personal injury attorney Ben Crump will deliver a call to action and Rev. Al Sharpton, Founder and President of the National Action Network (NAN), will deliver the eulogy after Tyre Nichols’ death at his funeral in Memphis this Wednesday.

Tyre Nichols’ death came on Jan. 10, days after he was involved in a traffic stop conducted by the Memphis Police Department that left him critically injured. In the Tyre Nichols case, Nichols fled the traffic stop scene, and the police began to chase him. Police brutalized him to the point of being unrecognizable.

Officers in the Tyre Nichols case were indicted by a Grand Jury and charged with second-degree murder, aggravated assault, two counts of aggravated kidnapping, two counts of official misconduct, and official oppression on Jan. 26.

Media in the Tyre Nichols case will be assigned to the Church’s Chapel for coverage of the service, where a press conference will take place immediately after the funeral. Media also will have a designated area for coverage outside of the church. Media will not be allowed in the main sanctuary during the service. CBS News will provide video pooling inside the main sanctuary, while The Commercial Appeal will provide print and photo pooling. RSVP is required to cover this event; please respond no later than 8 p.m. CST on Tuesday, January 31st here: https://forms.gle/qV2zszv4FwHNNakr6

WHO:
Family of Tyre Nichols
Ben Crump, National Civil Rights Attorney
Rev. Al Sharpton, Founder and President of NAN
Tamika Palmer, Mother of Breonna Taylor
Philonise Floyd, Brother of George Floyd

WHEN:
Wednesday, February 1, 2023
Press arrival: 7:30 a.m. CST
Services begin: at 10:30 a.m. CST

WHERE:
Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church
70 N. Bellevue Boulevard
Memphis, TN 38104

LIVESTREAM
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/THEBLVD1
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mississippiboulevardchrist8792/featured

SATELLITE COORDINATES
Galaxy 17 K10 SLOT 6
UPLINK: 14215 H
DOWNLINK: 11915 V
PARAMETERS:
SYMBOL 4, DATA 8.912, FEC 3/4, DVB S2, 8PSK, 4:2:0, 1080i

###

About Ben Crump Law

About National Action Network (NAN)

National Action Network is one of the leading civil rights organizations in the Nation with chapters throughout the entire United States. Founded in 1991 by Reverend Al Sharpton, NAN works within the spirit and tradition of Dr Martin Luther King, Jr. to promote a modern civil rights agenda that includes the fight for one standard of justice, decency, and equal opportunities for all people regardless of race, religion, nationality, or gender.
For more information go to www.nationalactionnetwork.net.

ABOUT MISSISSIPPI BOULEVARD CHRISTIAN CHURCH

Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church, lovingly known as “The BLVD”, is the first African American church in the city of Memphis under the doctrine of the Disciples of Christ (DOC). Its mission is to lead others to Christ, learn to be like Christ, live for Christ, and love as Christ without limits in the Greater Memphis Area through transformative worship, engaging fellowship, impactful ministry, consistent discipleship, and broad evangelism. Since its founding in 1921, The BLVD has sought to be relevant not just to the spiritual needs of people, but also to how the message of Jesus applies to the social climate of a community. For more information, visit [https://www.theblvd.org%20/]www.theblvd.org.

Family of Tyre Nichols, Attorney Ben Crump, and Rev. Sharpton to Address Latest Updates in Nichols Case at Historic Location of Dr. King’s Last Speech

January 30, 2023

Family of Tyre Nichols, Attorney Ben Crump, and Rev. Sharpton to Address Latest Updates in Nichols Case at Historic Location of Dr. King’s Last Speech

MEMPHIS, Tenn. –– Nationally renowned civil rights and personal injury attorney Ben Crump, the family at the center of the Tyre Nichols case, and Rev. Al Sharpton will hold a news conference on Jan. 31 at 7:30 pm CT to respond to the administrative action against two additional Memphis Police officers, and the firing of three Memphis Fire Department employees after Tyre Nichols’ death.

Officer Preston Hemphill has been named as one of the Memphis police officers under investigation. The two emergency medical technicians, Robert Long and JaMicheal Sandridge, and fire engine driver Lt. Michelle Whitaker were fired for failing to provide adequate aid in the final moments before Tyre Nichols’ death.

Other victims of the Memphis SCORPION Unit who allege they were brutalized before Tyre Nichols’ death will address the media.

WHO:
Family of Tyre Nichols
Attorney Ben Crump
Rev. Al Sharpton, President of National Action Network
J. Drew Sherad Presiding Bishop and Chief Apostle of The Church of God in Christ
Van Turner, President of NAACP Memphis Branch
Victims of the Memphis SCORPION Unit

WHEN:
Tuesday, January 31, 2023, at 7:30 pm CT

WHERE:
Mason Temple: Church of God in Christ World Headquarters
930 Mason St
Memphis, TN 38126

###

ABOUT BEN CRUMP LAW

Through his work, nationally renowned civil rights and personal injury attorney Ben Crump has spearheaded a legal movement to better protect the rights of marginalized citizens. He has led landscape-changing civil rights cases and represented clients in a wide range of areas including civil rights, personal injury, labor, and employment, class actions, and more. Ben Crump Law is dedicated to holding the powerful accountable. For more information, visit bencrump.com.

Attorneys Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci React to News That Sixth Officer Involved in Tyre Nichols’ Death has Been Relieved of Duty

January 30, 2023

MEMPHIS, Tenn. –– Nationally renowned civil rights and personal injury attorneys Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci have issued a statement in the Tyre Nichols case following the announcement that the sixth officer involved in the traffic stop that led to Tyre Nichols’ death has been ‘relieved of duty.’ Officer Preston Hemphill can be seen on video violently pulling Nichols from his car while hitting him on the ground with a Taser, later saying, “I hope they stomp his ass” after Nichols ran away. Hemphill has not been terminated or charged. The five other officers (Justin Smith, Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills Jr) involved in Tyre Nichols’ death have been charged with second-degree murder, aggravated assault, two counts of aggravated kidnapping, and two counts of official misconduct and official oppression.

Attorneys for the family issued the following statement in the Tyre Nichols case:

“The news today from Memphis officials that Officer Preston Hemphill was reportedly relieved of duty weeks ago, but not yet terminated or charged, is extremely disappointing. Why are his identity and the role he played in Tyre’s death just now coming to light? We have asked from the beginning that the Memphis Police Department be transparent with the family and the community – this news seems to indicate that they haven’t risen to the occasion. It certainly begs the question of why the white officer involved in this brutal attack was shielded and protected from the public eye, and to date, from sufficient discipline and accountability. The Memphis Police Department owes us all answers.”

###

ABOUT BEN CRUMP LAW

About Romanucci & Blandin, LLC

Attorney Ben Crump Tyre Nichols Case Fact Sheet

January 26, 2023

police-killing-of-tyre-nichols-ben-crump

Deceased: Tyre Nichols (29, black male, single, one child)

Date of Incident: January 7, 2023

Date of Death: January 10, 2023

Location: Memphis, TN

Ben Crump Clients: RowVaughn Wells (Tyre’s Mother) & Tyre’s minor son (name/age?)

Co-Counsel: Romanucci Blandin Law – Antonio Romanucci

Video Footage

tyre-nichols-body-cam-footage

There are 4 known videos recorded on the evening of January 7, 2023, in Memphis, Tennessee. The videos can be viewed at https://vimeo.com/cityofmemphis

Video 1. A police-issued, body-worn camera near the intersection of Raines and Ross Rd.
Videos 2, 3, & 4. Video footage at the second location, a residential neighborhood
Video 2. From a pole camera, contains no audio

Videos 3 & 4. Police-issued, body-worn camera videos

Incident Timeline

On January 7, 2023, Tyre Nichols was brutally beaten after a traffic stop by Memphis Police Department officers. The Memphis Police Department initially stated on January 8 that the traffic stop of Nichols was due to reckless driving, but later on January 27, the Memphis police chief stated that the footage showed no evidence of probable cause for the traffic stop. Following the traffic stop, an initial altercation ensued during which officers deployed pepper spray and a Taser. Nichols fled on foot, and within a short distance, a second altercation occurred when Memphis Police Officers caught up with him, then punched and kicked Nichols’s face, and hit his back with a baton. Media outlets reported that the footage did not show Nichols resisting or appearing to provoke officers during the beating. He was hospitalized in critical condition and ultimately died on January 10, 2023.

The New York Times did a great article on Tyre’s life, interviewing his friends and going through his social media—the article can be found here: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/27/us/tyre-nichols-memphis-sacramento.html

tyre-nichols-case-ben-crump

Memphis Police Officers Arrested

Ben-Crump-Memphis-Tenn-Police-Officers-Tyre-Nichols-Death

Officer Demetrius Haley
1. $350K Bond (has not paid his bond and remains in jail)
2. Hired by MPD in August 2020
3. Former Corrections Officer
4. Sued for Excessive Force against an inmate in 2016
Officer Tadarrius Bean
1. $250K Bond
2. Hired by MPD in August 2020

Officer Emmitt Martin
1. $350K Bond
2. Hired by MPD in March 2018
Officer Desmond Mills
1. $250K Bond
2. Hired by MPD in March 2017
Officer Justin Smith
1. $250K Bond
2. Hired by MPD in March 2018

Charges Against All Officers

Second Degree Murder (T.C.A. 39-13-210)
- Unlawfully and knowingly Killed Tyre Nichols.
Aggravated Assault – Acting in Concert (T.C.A. 39-13-102)
- Acting in concert with each other caused serious bodily injury to Tyre Nichols.
Aggravated Kidnapping (T.C.A. 39-13-304)
- Confined Tyre Nichols, substantially interfered with his liberty, and caused him to suffer bodily injury.
Official Misconduct (2 Counts) (T.C.A. 39-16-402)
- While acting as public servants, refrained from performing an imposed duty as an LEO and intended to harm Tyre Nichols.
Official Oppression (T.C.A. 39-16-403)
- While acting as public servants, acting under the color of office or employment, unlawfully and intentionally subjected Tyre Nichols to mistreatment or arrest, detention, and stop.

The five officers involved—Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Desmond Mills Jr., Emmitt Martin III, and Justin Smith—were all terminated on Jan. 18 and are scheduled to be arraigned on Feb. 17. Since officials released the graphic footage of Nichols’ fatal beatdown Friday, civil rights activists, including George Floyd and now Nichols’ family attorney Ben Crump and Al Sharpton have discussed working with Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., and others to reintroduce the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act to end qualified immunity for police officers.

The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021 aims to combat police misconduct, excessive force, and racial bias in policing.

Next Steps

Open Probate
Obtain complete Body Cam and Police Car Cam videos from all officers on the scene
Radio calls for all officers on the scene
Police Report from all officers (main and supplemental)
911 Calls
EMS Records
Hospital Records, so far.
Internal Investigation Report
Arrest Reports
Witness Statements
Hire Use of Force Expert/s

Notable Quotes

“As I’ve said, I believe it’s part of the institutionalized police culture that makes it somehow allowed that they can use this type of excessive force and brutality against people of color,” Crump said. “And it doesn’t matter if the officers are Black, Hispanic, or white, it’s part of the culture, this biased culture that said this is allowed. And so just as much as those officers are responsible for the death of Tyre Nichols, so is the implicit, biased police culture that exists in America.”

—Ben Crump, Notable Civil Rights Attorney
representing the Nichols family

“The fact that we saw that these individuals, these five individuals, did not have any respect for life. And again, I don’t think that these five guys represent the vast, vast majority of law enforcement. But I don’t think that there’s anything we can do to stop the type of evil we saw in that video.”

—Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio & ranking
member of the House Judiciary Committee

“And so, knowing that we have these biases that we all carry around with us, and when we talk about the implicit bias trainers and things, it’s not—no training is going to—to completely dissipate someone’s bias that they have in them. You know, what we’re hoping individuals can learn is identifying their biases, so they learn better to work within them to whether they’re not having a negative impact on somebody else. And we have to take that emotion that we’re all dealing with right now, and we have to turn that into fuel and fuel that will lead us to see some change in this country.”

—Jason Armstrong, current police chief of Apex, North Carolina,
formerly Ferguson, Missouri’s sixth chief in seven years

“Police departments have to take the screening process of candidates to be police officers seriously and not rush to hire officers that might not be qualified.”

After it was reported that two of the five Memphis police officers fired and charged with fatally beating Tyre Nichols were hired after the department loosened its hiring requirements, highlighting concerns that police departments should not rush to fill open positions with people who might not be qualified.

—Mike Alcazar, retired NYPD detective, now an
adjunct professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice

“Black cops are often socialized in police departments that view certain neighborhoods as war zones. In those departments, few officers get disciplined for dishing out ‘street justice’ in certain precincts—often populated by Black, brown, or low-income people—where there is a tacit understanding that the ‘rulebook’ simply doesn’t apply. Cops of all colors, including Black police officers, internalize those messages—and sometimes act on them.”

—Van Jones, CNN commentator

“I need so many people to understand this regarding Tyre Nichols. Several of the police officers who murdered Freddie Gray were Black. The entire system of policing is based on white supremacist violence. We see people under the boot of oppression carry its water all the time.”

—Jemele Hill, writer for The Atlantic

Attorneys Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci Release Open Letter on SCORPION Squads

May Tyre Nichols’ Death Create Change in “Saturation Unit” Policing like the SCORPION SQUAD

January 26, 2023

“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. These types of aggressive units are used in cities across the country and are intended to flood troubled areas with officers to stem high crime. 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. Officers tend to focus on Black and Brown members of the community and feel empowered to conduct “pre-textual” stops, or stops without probable cause, saying they are proactively looking for guns or drugs. These often aggressive encounters flat out destruct trust between police and the communities they are sworn to protect and serve, but as we saw in the tragic and unnecessary death of Tyre Nichols, can also lead to physical injury or death when the culture of unchecked, pro-active policing overtakes common sense.

We have learned from reports this week that the 5 now-fired officers involved in Tyre’s death were members of the Memphis Police Department’s SCORPION squad, which stands for Street Crimes Operation to Restore Peace in our Neighborhoods. Their mandate is to reduce violent crimes like carjacking, homicides, and aggressive assaults by flooding neighborhoods with 10-man teams. But the official cause for Tyre’s encounter with police on January 7, 2023, was a traffic stop, far outside the unit’s stated purpose of stemming violent crime. But the “why” of Tyre Nichols’s death is found in this policing culture itself, not something Tyre personally did. And his running in fear for his life in-between a series of beatings was an affront to the officers, who wanted to show Tyre and the city of Memphis that as a team they can take anyone down. No one escapes the Scorpions.

Whatever happened to Tyre, there was a cultural mindset to it, and it’s not unique to Memphis. From Baltimore to Chicago and D.C., units like the SCORPION unmarked cars – regardless of what the units are named – cause terror in minority communities. In 2017, eight detectives in Baltimore’s Gun Trace Task Force (GTTF) were convicted of robbery and racketeering. In Chicago in 2004, a similar roving unit had to be disbanded when officers were accused of robberies and home invasions. In Washington, D.C., the ACLU has testified in court about hundreds of jump-outs they call illegal and examples of racial profiling. And in Memphis just a few days before Tyre Nichols was beaten, another Black male in the same community says he was also subjected to excessive force by a group of SCORPION officers. To be fair, some “saturation patrols” do work, when they have a clear and controlled mandate like doing DUI checks – and can be effective in increasing community safety. However, the rampant and unchecked patrols taking on other crimes without oversight and transparency are where things go off the rails and officers can act with impunity in the community like a pack of wolves.

RAND Corporation, a public policy think tank on their website Better Policing Toolkit is critical of what they call “zero tolerance” and aggressive policing tactics. While the Daily Memphian quotes Former Memphis Police Director Winslow “Buddy” Chapman — who is now executive director of CrimeStoppers of Memphis and Shelby County — who said such proactive initiatives can provide a public service, but they must be tightly supervised and monitored because abuse often follows. He went on to say, “I think that one of the reasons minorities, impoverished people, people on the fringes of society, are frequently the victims of excessive use of force by police is that because, let’s face it, it’s easier to get away with,” said Chapman, who served as police director from 1976 to 1983.

Together we are calling for national change in this type of policing. We ask that U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland and the Department of Justice (DOJ) begin an investigation into cities that use these tactics and 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.

Further, we ask for the Major Cities Chiefs Association, the professional organization of police executives representing the largest cities in the United States and Canada, to join DOJ in this analysis. The group’s stated mission is to address the challenges and issues of policing. President of the Board, Edgardo (Eddie) Garcia, who is also police chief of the Dallas Police Department, we ask that you take on this challenge to improve policing and community trust nationwide. Now.

We insist on reform, transparency, and better oversight of these “saturation” units, or for their removal as a tactic in American policing. Our communities will be far better for it.

###

ABOUT BEN CRUMP LAW

About Romanucci & Blandin, LLC

Romanucci & Blandin is a Chicago-based national trial practice committed to fighting for victims of negligence, abuse, and wrongful death. For 25 years, we have secured more than $850 million in verdicts and settlements for our clients – many for millions of dollars and other record-setting awards. Our experience ranges from mass shootings, civil rights, and police misconduct to medical malpractice, sexual abuse, motor vehicle accidents or workplace injury cases involving individual or institutional negligence. Romanucci & Blandin is a valuable legal resource to individuals and groups of people who have been injured by others’ wrongdoing. Referring attorneys and clients say several factors differentiate our firm: Our record of success, depth of experience, talented and dedicated legal team, tireless preparation, and strategic use of communications to fight for the rights of those whose lives have been changed forever. We are different from other personal injury firms in that our work does not stop when a verdict or settlement is secured. We are often inspired by our clients’ experiences and commit resources to create change in our communities. For more information about Romanucci & Blandin, please visit www.rblaw.net or call (312) 458-1000.

Attorneys Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci React to Preliminary Findings in Tyre Nichols Independent Autopsy
January 24, 2023

MEMPHIS, Tenn. –– Nationally renowned civil rights and personal injury attorneys Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci have issued a statement on preliminary findings in the independent autopsy of Tyre Nichols, who died after an encounter with Memphis police. Tyre Nichols died on Jan. 10, days after he was involved in a traffic stop conducted by the Memphis Police Department that left him critically injured. Nichols fled the traffic stop scene, and the police began to chase him. Police brutalized him to the point of being unrecognizable.

Attorneys for the family issued the following statement:

“On January 23, 2023, our legal team had its own independent autopsy performed on the body of Tyre Nichols by a highly regarded, nationally renowned forensic pathologist. We can state that preliminary findings indicate Tyre suffered extensive bleeding caused by a severe beating and that his observed injuries are consistent with what the family and attorneys witnessed on the video of his fatal encounter with police on January 7, 2023. Further details and findings from this independent report will be disclosed at another time.”

###

ABOUT BEN CRUMP LAW

About Romanucci & Blandin, LLC

Attorneys Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci React to Video Footage from the Death of Tyre Nichols
January 23, 2023

MEMPHIS, Tenn. –– Nationally renowned civil rights and personal injury attorneys Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci have issued a statement following viewing the police body camera
footage from the night that Tyre Nichols died after an encounter with Memphis police. Tyre Nichols died on Jan. 10, days after he was involved in a traffic stop conducted by the
Memphis Police Department that left him critically injured. Nichols fled the traffic stop scene, and the police began to chase him. Police brutalized him to the point of being unrecognizable.

Attorneys for the family issued the following statement:

“Today, with the family of Tyre Nichols, we saw with our own eyes the disgusting way in which he lost his life at the hands of Memphis police. Tyre was brutalized by Memphis police, much
like how Rodney King was beaten more than thirty years ago –– but unlike Rodney, Tyre lost his life from this violent attack. How are we here again so many years later? These former officers
must face the consequences of taking this young man’s life and robbing his family of their loved one –– justice is the only path forward.”

###

ABOUT BEN CRUMP LAW

About Romanucci & Blandin, LLC

Romanucci & Blandin is a Chicago-based national trial practice committed to fighting for victims of negligence, abuse, and wrongful death. For 25 years, we have secured more than $850 million in verdicts and settlements for our clients – many for millions of dollars and other record-setting awards. Our experience ranges from mass shootings, civil rights, and police misconduct to medical malpractice, sexual abuse, motor vehicle accidents or workplace injury cases involving individual or institutional negligence. Romanucci & Blandin is a valuable legal resource to individuals and groups of people who have been injured by others’ wrongdoing. Referring attorneys and clients say several factors differentiate our firm: Our record of success, depth of experience, talented and dedicated legal team, tireless preparation, and strategic use of communications to fight for the rights of those whose lives have been changed forever. We are different from other personal injury firms in that our work does not stop when a verdict or settlement is secured. We are often inspired by our clients’ experiences and commit resources to create change in our communities. For more information about Romanucci & Blandin, please visit www.rblaw.net or call (312) 458-1000.

Attorneys Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci Respond to Termination of Officers Involved in the Death of Tyre Nichols
January 20, 2023

MEMPHIS, Tenn. –– Nationally renowned civil rights and personal injury attorneys Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci have issued a statement following the announcement that the five Memphis Police Department officers involved in the death of Tyre Nichols have been terminated from the Department. Tyre Nichols died on Jan. 10, days after he was involved in a traffic stop conducted by the Memphis Police Department that left him critically injured. Nichols fled the traffic stop scene, and the police began to chase him. The family of Nichols says that police brutalized him to the point of being unrecognizable. The family and their attorneys will hold a news conference on Monday after they view footage of Nichols’ death.

Attorneys for the family issued the following statement:

“We join Tyre’s family in supporting the Department’s decision to terminate the five officers who brutalized him, ultimately causing his death. This is the first step towards achieving justice for Tyre and his family. They must also be held accountable for robbing this man of his life and his son of a father. In the coming days, we will review the video footage from this violent attack providing the family and community more clarity into what led to the loss of this young man, father, and son. We will continue to demand transparency and accountability in this case, and will not stop until we achieve full justice for Tyre and his family.”

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Attorney Ben Crump Retained by Family of Tyre Nichols, Man Killed After Memphis Traffic Stop
January 16, 2023

MEMPHIS, Tenn. –– Nationally renowned civil rights and personal injury attorney Ben Crump has been retained by the family of Tyre Nichols, a man who died on Jan. 10, days after he was involved with a traffic stop conducted by the Memphis Police Department that left him critically injured. Nichols fled the traffic stop scene, and the police began to chase him. The family of Nichols says that police brutalized him to the point of being unrecognizable.

Attorney Crump issued the following statement:

“All of the available information tells us that this was the tragic and preventable death of a young man deeply beloved by his family and community. This kind of in-custody death destroys community trust if agencies are not swiftly transparent. The most effective way for the Memphis Police Department to be transparent with the grieving Nichols family and the Memphis community is to release the body camera and surveillance footage from the traffic stop. Nobody should ever die from a simple traffic stop – the footage is the only way to discern the true narrative of why and how that happened to Tyre.”

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Attorneys Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci React to Preliminary Findings in Tyre Nichols Independent Autopsy
January 24, 2023

Attorneys Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci React to Video Footage from the Death of Tyre Nichols
January 23, 2023

Attorneys Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci Respond to Termination of Officers Involved in the Death of Tyre Nichols
January 20, 2023

Attorney Ben Crump Retained by Family of Tyre Nichols, Man Killed After Memphis Traffic Stop
January 16, 2023