Three former Memphis police officers were acquitted on all counts in the Tyre Nichols murder case on Wednesday.
A jury acquitted Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley and Justin Smith of second-degree murder, and other charges, in the death of Tyre Nichols.
Shelby County Criminal Court Judge James Jones Jr. released the men from custody. They are awaiting sentencing on previous federal convictions related to the case.
The three men and former colleagues Desmond Mills Jr. and Emmitt Martin are set to be sentenced in federal court next month.
Wednesday’s acquittals sparked outrage among Memphis residents and Nichols’ family members who waited 2 years for justice.
Nichols, a 29-year-old black man, was severely beaten by five black police officers in Memphis, Tennessee on January 7, 2023. He died after lingering for 3 days on life support in a hospital.
The amateur photographer and FedEx employee was pulled over by police and dragged from his car. After being pepper sprayed and tased, Nichols ran to his mother’s house less than a mile away.
The five officers caught up to him and punched, kicked, pepper sprayed and struck Nichols with a baton.
The officers later claimed they stopped Nichols for reckless speeding. But a review of police body cams and cameras on utility poles didn’t show probable cause for the traffic stop.
It was later revealed that Nichols was fatally beaten over a woman linked to one of the officers.
The case generated national headlines and then-President Joe Biden spoke with the Nichols family.
The family filed a $500 million wrongful death lawsuit against the Memphis Police Department, the City of Memphis, police chief, and others.
