Memphis police have released body camera footage showing the moment Tire Nichols called for his mother as he was beaten by five police officers before his death.
Throughout the attack, the footage shows officers brutally beating the 29-year-old FedEx employee for three minutes while yelling obscenities at him.
Police released four separate videos, edited into one-hour segments.
Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn Davis told reporters it came from “three different streams.”
“It’s three different sources: a body camera, a real source, right at the scene where you know the worst abuse happened, and then two other body cameras from the same officers at the scene,” she said.
Ms Davies had earlier asked for calm before the footage was made public.
“I hope you feel what the Nichols family felt,” she said. “I want you to be outraged by the disregard for basic human rights.”
In the video, a camera shows officers initially stopping at the intersection.
One officer can be heard saying: “I’m going to hit you with a baton (expletive).” His body camera showed him raising his baton, while at least one other officer held Mr Nichols.
After the co-pilot roughly pulled Mr Nichols out of his car, the FedEx employee could be heard saying, “I didn’t do anything,” as a group of officers began pinning him to the ground.
“Get on the ground!” one officer yelled, while another was heard yelling, “Get him! Get him!”
Tire Nichols beaten by cops in video released by Memphis Police Department
Mr Nichols quickly and calmly replied after being thrown onto the pavement: “Okay, I’m on the ground.”
Moments later, as the officers continued to yell, Mr Nichols said: “Man, I’m on the ground.”
“Put your hands behind your back before I break your (expletive),” one officer yelled.
Moments later, an officer yelled: “(expletive), put your hand behind your back before I break your hand.”
“You guys are really doing a lot right now,” Mr Nichols said loudly to the officers. “I just want to go home.”
“Stop it, I’m not doing anything,” he yelled after a moment.
The camera is briefly blocked before Mr Nichols can be seen running as an officer fires a Taser at him. Police then began pursuing Nichols.
After the beating, officers circled around for several minutes while Mr Nichols leaned against the car before collapsing into the street.
Footage from one of the cameras showed police arresting Mr Nichols and proceeding to beat him.
Mr Nichols was heard yelling at his mother as police attacked him.
The child’s father was then pepper sprayed and punched in the face.
tire nichols
Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn Davis said that during the initial stop, officers “were ramped up, about 10 people.” The officers were “aggressive, loud and profane and probably frightened Mr Nichols from the start”.
“We knew something was going on before this officer or these officers got out of the car … just know the nature of an officer, it takes something to get them excited, you know, like that. We don’t know what happened what, she said.
“What we do know is that the force used in these circumstances was disproportionate,” Ms Davies said.
She also described the police’s actions as “outrageous, reckless and inhumane” and said her department could not substantiate the reckless driving charge that resulted in the stop.
Cities across the country braced for mass demonstrations after the video was released. Relatives of Mr Nichols urged supporters to protest peacefully.
Given the potential for protests, Ms. Davis told the ABC that she and other local officials decided it would be best to release the video later in the day, after schools were out and people had gone home from get off work.
Clockwise from top left: Demetrius Haley, Justin Smith, Emmitt Martin III, Tadarrius Bean and Desmond Mills Jr were fired.Photo: Shelby County Sheriff’s Office
Mr Nichols’ mother, Row Vaughn Wells, warned supporters of the “horrific” nature of the video but pleaded for peace.
“I don’t want us to burn down our cities and tear up our streets because that’s not what my son stands for,” she said Thursday. “If you are here for me and Thiel, then you will protest peacefully.”
Rallies and demonstrations are planned for Friday night in Memphis, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, New York City, Portland, Oregon and Washington.
New York Mayor Eric Adams, a former police officer, said he and other mayors across the country had been briefed by the White House before the video was released, which he said would “cause pain and sorrow for many of us. It will make us angry.”
FBI Director Christopher Frey said he was “shocked” by the video and reminded all FBI field officers to work with state and local partners, including in Memphis, “in case something gets out of hand.”
U.S. President Joe Biden issued a statement after the video was released: “Like many others, I am outraged and devastated by the horrific video of the beating that resulted in the death of Tyre Nichols. This is yet another painful reminder Black and brown people in America experience deep fear and trauma, pain and exhaustion every day.
“My heart goes out to the family of Tire Nichols and to Americans in Memphis and across the country who are grieving this enormous and painful loss.”
He added: “Violence is never acceptable; it is illegal and destructive. I join Mr Nichols’ family in calling for peaceful protest.”
Mr. Biden also said he had spoken to Mr. Nichols’ mother, Rovaughn Wells, and his stepfather, Rodney Wells.
He continued: “There are no words to describe the heartbreak and grief of losing a beloved child and young father. Nothing will bring Mr. Nichols back to his family and the Memphis community. But Mr. Nichols’ son Will The Erneses and his entire family deserve a prompt, full and transparent investigation.”
Before it was made public, Mr Nichols’ family said the “very horrific” footage showed police brutally beating the FedEx employee for three minutes, with their lawyer likening it to the 1991 Los Angeles police attack on motorist Rodriguez. Denikin.
The five fired officers, all black, were charged with second-degree murder and other offenses in Mr Nichols’ death, including battery, kidnapping, officer misconduct and officer oppression.
Martin’s attorney, William Massey, and Mills’ attorney, Blake Ballin, said their clients will not plead not guilty. Attorneys for Smith, Bean and Hayley could not be reached.