acquitted
HipHopWired Featured Video
CLOSE
Three Black Memphis police officers were acquitted on charges of beating and killing Tyre Nichols after a 2023 traffic stop went awry. The news of the acquittal has spread widely, sparking anger online and abroad as the family of Tyre Nichols continues to seek justice for their loved one.
As reported by the Associated Press, former Memphis Police Department officers Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, and Justin Smith were all acquitted on state charges, including second-degree murder, in the death of Tyre Nichols. Nichols was 29 at the time of his passing.
According to the report, jurors from a majority-white county viewed evidence over two days and found the officers not guilty on all charges. The nine-day trial took place in Memphis’ state court. The aforementioned officers are still facing federal charges, with the most serious charges there dropped as well. Emmitt Martin, another former officer, pleaded guilty in both state and federal court and was pegged by defense attorneys as the ringleader of the aggression that ended Nichols’ life.
Nichols was stopped by officers on Jan. 7, 2023, and fled on foot after officers reportedly pulled him out of the car and used a Taser and pepper spray. The five Memphis police officers chased him down and savagely beat Nichols, who was just steps away from his house and calling for his mother to help. Officers were seen on video laughing and carrying on normal conversations as Nichols suffered from his injuries. He eventually died on Jan. 10.
On X, many are voicing their disappointment in the acquittal at the state level for the former officers. We’ve got those reactions listed below.
—
Photo: The Washington Post / Getty
HipHopWired Featured Video
Hurricane Chris was charged with second-degree murder in 2020 after shooting a man he believed was attempting to steal his vehicle. This past Wednesday (March 15), the artist born Christopher Dooley was formally acquitted on all counts during his murder trial.
Local outlet WBRZ reports that Hurricane Chris, 32, was initially indicted on second-degree murder charges for the shooting death of Danzeria Farris Jr. Farris was shot multiple times at a gas station in Shreveport, La., succumbing to his wounds. Hurricane Chris was also charged with illegal possession of a stolen vehicle.
According to the attorney for the “Ay Bay Bay” artist, Chris was acting in self-defense.
“He was simply trying not to be killed,” Dooley’s attorney, Alex J. Washington, told local outlet KTBS. “What we later learned is that this individual had concrete slabs in his pocket and it was a bulge in his pocket, so when Mr. Dooley faced off with him he believed that to be a weapon. When the guy put his hand in his pocket he was faced with a decision, ‘should I leave my life in this guys hands? Or, should I make a decision?’ And he made a decision to save his own life and he pulled the trigger.”
Washington added in his statement that Hurricane Chris was acquitted of the stolen car charge as well as he purchased the vehicle from an ex-girlfriend who later reported the car stolen.
—
Photo: Michael Loccisano / Getty
-
Pages