Ex-Officers Involved in Beating Death of Tyre Nichols Have Been Convicted, but Escape Harshest Charges

MEMPHIS— Three of the five ex-cops who took part in the 2023 beating death of Tyre Nichols have been convicted. Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley and Justin Smith were all found guilty on Thursday for their roles in the fatal encounter. However, they were all acquitted of some of the harshest federal charges.

All three of the former Memphis officers were convicted of witness tampering associated with the cover up of following the violent beating of Nichols. But Bean and Smith dodged civil rights charges, and Haley was acquitted of violating Nichols’ civil rights causing death. He was convicted of a lesser civil rights charge of causing bodily harm, instead of causing death.

The three defendants had been facing life in prison, but are now looking at serving far less time thanks to the reduced charges.

In January of last year, five Black Memphis police officers pulled over 29 year old Nichols, who was also Black, during a traffic stop. Nichols ran from the officers and was Tased and pepper sprayed.

The officers, all part of the controversial, now-disbanded Scorpion Unit Task Force, handcuffed him and aggressively punched and kicked him until he lay on the ground lifeless. Nichols was brought to the hospital, where he died from his injuries three days later.

The other two ex-officers involved in Nichols’ death, Emmitt Martin and Desmond Mills, pled guilty in exchange for plea deals.

All five officers were also charged with second-degree murder at the state level. They’ve all not pled guilty, but the two defendants who took deals may soon change their pleas.

In a press statement, Assistant U.S. Attorney General Kristen Clarke insisted, “Tyre Nichols should be alive today.”

“We hope this prosecution provides some measure of comfort as the law enforcement officers tied to his death have been held accountable,” Clarke continued.

Nichols was a photographer, an avid skateboarder and a loving father to his son, Milo, who was four years old when his dad was killed.

Outside of court, Rodney Wells, Nichols’ stepfather, told a reporter, “A win is a win. They’re all going to jail.”