‘Justice For Tyre’: NBA franchise Memphis Grizzlies speak out about the killing of Tire Nichols and offer support to his family and friends after ‘unnecessary loss of life’ – when harrowing bodycam footage of five police officers fatally beating him is released
The Memphis Grizzlies lent their support to “one of their own” Tire Nichols after he was killed.
The NBA team’s statement comes as horrific bodycam footage was released of five police officers fatally beating Nichols after a traffic stop for allegedly reckless driving.
Nichols died in hospital on January 10, three days after officers beat him. Video released Friday night shows the 29-year-old yelling for his mother multiple times during the brutal Jan. 7 attack, which took place just blocks from his home.
Tire Nichols is pictured in hospital. The 29-year-old from Memphis died of cardiac arrest and kidney failure on Jan. 10, three days after he was pulled over by police for reckless driving in unmarked cars
Memphis Grizzlies lent their support to “one of their own” Nichols after he was killed
WARNING: GRAPHIC LANGUAGE AND DISTURBING CONTENT
The Memphis Police Department has released harrowing bodycam footage of five officers fatally beating Nichols
“We are dismayed to be faced with an unnecessary loss of life due to police brutality, and this time it was one of Memphis’ own,” the Grizzlies said in a statement Friday.
“Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Nichols and we share the pain felt throughout our community.
“So let’s support each other and respect how our fellow Memphis folks are getting along. We have faith in this city and in our power to heal.
“We send our deepest sympathy and condolences to the family and friends of Nichols for your loss.”
Nichols can be heard yelling, “Mom! Mummy!’ as he is pinned to the ground by several police officers, hit in the face with pepper spray, kicked and punched on the head, and beaten with a metal baton.
All five officers involved in the murder were charged with second-degree murder in the Nichols killing, with the district attorney saying that although they all played different roles, “they are all responsible”.
Police across the country are preparing for possible violent riots in response to the vivid and highly disturbing footage that has been released.
The clip, released Friday, is over an hour long and includes video from three body-worn cameras and one surveillance camera mounted on a utility pole.
‘Mummy! Mummy!’ screams Nichols as he is pinned to the ground, pepper sprayed in the face and kicked and punched by several officers after a chase
Another view from a nearby surveillance camera appears to show Nichols unresponsive after the attack
Paramedics arrive at the scene as handcuffed Nichols appears unable to sit up on his own
Charged with second degree murder are (top left to right) Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III and (bottom left to right) Desmond Mills Jr. and Justin Smith
Nichols, 29, died in hospital on January 10, three days after a traffic stop that left him seriously injured
Those who saw the video compared it to Rodney King’s footage.
A bystander filmed LAPD officers beating King with batons in 1991, and her acquittal the following year sparked six days of rioting in Los Angeles as racial tensions boiled over.
In King’s case, the officers involved were white, while the five officers charged with the murder of Nichols, a black man, are also black.