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6h ago

Three Memphis Officers Acquitted of State Charges in Tyre Nichols Beating Death

The jury's verdict clears the officers of second-degree murder and other charges, while federal convictions and a $550 million civil suit remain unresolved.

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Former Memphis Police Department officers Demetrius Haley, center, Tadarrius Bean, left, and Justin Smith Jr., right, hug each other after they were acquitted of state charges, including second-degree murder, in the fatal beating of Tyre Nichols after he ran away from a traffic stop. Wednesday, May 7, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (Chris Day/Commercial Appeal/USA Today Network via AP, Pool)
MEMPHIS,TN- OCTOBER 21: Rodney Wells (L) and RowVaughn Wells, parents of Tyre Nichols, pose for a portrait next to Nichols' mural on October 21, 2024 in Memphis, Tennessee. Tyre Nichols was beaten by several Memphis police officers during a traffic stop in January of 2023, where he suffered a fatal traumatic brain injury. Jury members earlier this month found three of the officers guilty on different charges stemming from Nichols death. (Photo by Joshua Lott/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
FILE - Candles spell out the name of Tyre Nichols during a candlelight vigil for Nichols on the anniversary of his death, Jan. 7, 2024, in Memphis. (AP Photo/Karen Pulfer Focht, file)

Overview

  • Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, and Justin Smith were acquitted on all state charges, including second-degree murder, stemming from the January 2023 fatal beating of Tyre Nichols.
  • The jury, selected from a majority-white county outside Memphis, deliberated for over eight hours before delivering the verdict after a nine-day trial.
  • The three officers still face federal sentencing for witness tampering convictions from 2024, though they were acquitted of the most serious federal charges.
  • Two other officers involved in the incident, Emmitt Martin III and Desmond Mills Jr., pleaded guilty to state and federal charges and testified against their former colleagues.
  • Nichols’ family continues to pursue a $550 million civil lawsuit against the city of Memphis and its police department, with a trial scheduled for 2026.