Pressure has mounted on the Memphis Police Department to explain the death of Nichols who died in Police custody. Several protests have been held in Memphis since the death. Protesters call for a state investigation into the murder. No official cause of death has been revealed so far.
Earlier, Nichols’s family released a photography of him showing serious injuries. The family is demandinganswers from the police and the release of the body-cam footage. According to the family, Nichols was pepper-sprayed, tased and beaten brutally. The Police have so far given no details to explain how Nichols received his injuries. The family have retained civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who said in a statement, “Nobody should ever die from a simple traffic stop — the footage is the only way to discern the true narrative of why and how that happened to Tyre.”
Nichols was arrested on January 7 after cops in Memphis pulled him over for reckless driving. According to a statement by Memphis Police Department, Nichols tried to evade arrest and fled on foot, which resulted in a physical confrontation. The police statement, however, gave scant details about the confrontation.
Nichols was rushed to the hospital after “the suspect complained of having a shortness of breadth, at which time an ambulance was called to the scene,” the Police said. Nichols lost his life on January 10.
Memphis Police issued a statement saying that an internal investigation has been initiated.A joint-statement released by Mayor Jim Strickland and police chief CJ Davisstates:
“We understand and agree that transparency around the events surrounding the death of Mr Tyre Nichols is critically important, especially the release of the video footage.”
While the Memphis Police claims that disciplinary action will be taken against officers involved in the incident, so far no one has been charged.
Nichols’ family has held four protests and a memorial service since his death on January 10.
On Wednesday, the Department of Justice and FBI announced a civil rights inquiry into circumstances that preceded the death.
