SACRAMENTO — In a significant development, three former Memphis police officers were convicted in federal court on Thursday for their roles in the fatal beating of Tyre Nichols, a Sacramento native, in 2023. Each of the officers was found guilty of at least one federal offense, although they were acquitted of the more severe charges related to Nichols’ death, which had sparked nationwide protests and calls for reform in policing practices.
Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, and Justin Smith were all convicted of witness tampering connected to the cover-up of the incident following a traffic stop. However, both Bean and Smith were cleared of civil rights violations. Haley was acquitted of causing Nichols’ death through civil rights violations but was convicted of a lesser charge related to causing bodily injury.
Nichols’ family and their attorneys expressed mixed emotions regarding the verdict. Ryan Wilson, a childhood friend of Nichols, commented on the outcome, stating, “In the end of the day, he’s no longer with us. At least for right now, they are being charged with something and facing potential prison time, which gives us more time to continue the fight. The fight is not over.”
Five officers were charged in total for their involvement in Nichols’ death, with two officers having already pleaded guilty and testified against members of their now-disbanded crime suppression unit within the Memphis Police Department.
Wilson remembered Nichols fondly, noting his friend’s positive outlook and infectious smile. He shared that he maintains a memorial for Nichols at his home, emphasizing the lasting impact Nichols had on those around him. The Natomas skate park that the two frequented during their youth has been renamed the Tyre Nichols Skate Park in his memory.
Emmitt Martin, one of the two officers who pleaded guilty and testified in court, recounted how Nichols was “helpless” during the assault and described the atmosphere among the officers after the incident as one of mutual silence, stating, “They weren’t going to tell on me, and I wasn’t going to tell on them.”
Leia Schenk, a community advocate and founder of Empact, stated that the verdict is a crucial step forward. “It’s a powerful message that officers who commit crimes will be held accountable,” she remarked. “This is what should happen; we shouldn’t have to beg for accountability. Tyre Nichols’ death should trigger discussions about police tactics nationwide and drive the change we need.”
Schenk reiterated the need for ongoing dialogue about policing, stating, “These conversations are difficult but necessary. While this is a step in the right direction, we must remember that they took someone’s life and should face consequences for that.”
In addition to the federal charges, each of the five former officers is also facing second-degree murder charges in Tennessee state court, where they have pleaded not guilty. However, Mills and Martin are anticipated to change their pleas in light of the recent verdicts.
Schenk concluded, “You took a man’s life for absolutely nothing. Progress means we should not have to discuss these tragedies anymore; we want to prevent the loss of more lives.”
