The five Memphis police officers fired after the fatal beating of motorist Tyre Nichols are in custody, according to local reports.
The officers surrendered, and were being booked at the Shelby County jail, Tennessee’s Action News 5 reported Thursday.
The former officers — Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills Jr., and Justin Smith — were fired last week for excessive use of force, failing to intervene, and failing to render aid to Nichols, who had been pulled over for suspected reckless driving.
All five have been charged with second-degree murder, aggravated assault, and aggravated kidnapping charges, in addition to official misconduct, and official oppression charges.
Nichols, 29, died in a hospital three days after he was pulled over by police on Jan. 7.
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Police said in a statement the day after the encounter that “a confrontation occurred” when officers approached Nichols’s vehicle. Nichols ran, police said, and ”another confrontation occurred” after they caught up with him before they took him into custody.
Police Chief Cerelyn Davis issued a video statement Wednesday night, in which she described Nichols’ beating as “heinous, reckless, and inhumane.”
Two Memphis Fire Department employees involved in Nichols’ care after he was beaten by police have also been removed from duty pending an investigation.
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“This is not just a professional failing. This is a failing of basic humanity towards another individual,” Davis said, adding that the officers had “failed our community, and they failed the Nichols family. This is beyond regrettable.”
