According to a statement on the Memphis Police Department’s official Twitter account, five officers have been fired in connection with the death of Tyre Nichols, who died in a hospital after being apprehended by police earlier this month.
“The atrocious nature of this event does not represent the wonderful job our officers do with integrity every day,” said Police Chief Cerleyn “CJ” Davis in a statement.
According to the chief, investigators working on an internal assessment of the arrest discovered that the officers violated regulations regarding the use of force, the obligation to intervene, and the duty to offer help.
According to a statement from their attorneys, Nichols’ family approved of the terminations.
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“We join Tyre’s family in applauding the Department’s decision to fire the five policemen who brutalised him and eventually killed him. This is the first step toward justice for Tyre and his family, according to attorneys Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci. “They must also be held liable for taking this man’s life and depriving his son of a father.”
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is investigating whether the officers’ actions were illegal.
“The Memphis Police Association will not comment on the discharge of officers in the Tyre Nichols case due to the current criminal investigation,” the officers’ union said. “The folks of Memphis, and especially Mr. Nichols’ family, need to hear the full story of what happened leading up to his death and what may have contributed to it.”
A civil rights inquiry has also been launched by the Department of Justice and the FBI.
On January 8, the police department said that officers had pulled up a driver the day before for reckless driving. “A conflict erupted as cops approached the driver of the car, and the suspect left the area on foot,” officials stated in a social media statement.
According to police, officers chased the suspect and attempted to take him into custody again when another incident erupted before the culprit was caught.
“Afterward, the suspect complained of having a shortness of breath, at which point an ambulance was brought to the scene. The suspect was taken to St. Francis Hospital in critical condition, according to officials.
According to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the guy, identified as Nichols, died a few days later.
Details concerning Nichols’ injuries or the cause of death have not been revealed. CNN has contacted the Shelby County Coroner’s Office.
On Tuesday, municipal authorities stated that the footage recorded by the officers’ body-worn cameras will be made public when the police department’s internal investigation is completed and the family has had an opportunity to study the tapes.
Crump stated on Friday that the family would be able to view the tape “in the coming days.” On Monday afternoon, he and his family will hold a press conference.