Before 2020, this case probably would have been ignored. Rioting and looting get results.

CBS News

Five former Memphis, Tennessee, officers who were fired over the death of Tyre Nichols have been charged with second-degree murder, authorities announced Thursday. Nichols died after a violent arrest by police earlier this month.

“This was wrong. This was criminal,” Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Director David Rausch said during a press conference announcing the charges.

Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy said video footage of the arrest would be released Friday sometime after 6 p.m. Footage has been shown to Nichols’ family, but has not yet been made public.

Fired officers Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills Jr. and Justin Smith were all charged with second-degree murder, aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping, official misconduct and official oppression, according to Shelby County Jail inmate records.

The five officers found to be “directly responsible for the physical abuse of Mr. Nichols” were fired last week, but Memphis Police Director Cerelyn “CJ” Davis said other officers are still being investigated for violating department policy. Nichols was Black, as are the five officers involved in the arrest.

Court records don’t list attorneys for Smith, Bean or Haley. Martin’s lawyer, William Massey, confirmed that his client had turned himself in. He and Mills’ lawyer, Blake Ballin, said they planned to discuss the charges at a news conference later Thursday.

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