Three police officers in Memphis were convicted on charges connected to the beating death of Tyre Nichols. Following the verdict announced on Thursday evening, many community members in Memphis took to social media to express their condolences to Nichols’ family.
The jury determined that Demetrius Haley was guilty of excessive force, being indifferent to Nichols’ medical needs, conspiring to tamper with a witness, and witness tampering. While Haley was convicted on all counts, the jury decided that the first two counts resulted in injury rather than death, leading to convictions on lesser charges.
Tadarrius Bean and Justin Smith Jr. were both found guilty of witness tampering.
Emmitt Martin III and Desmond Mills Jr. opted for plea deals prior to the trial, admitting guilt to using excessive force and conspiring to tamper with a witness.
All three officers are scheduled to appear for their sentencing hearing on January 22.
In reactions to the verdict, District Attorney Steve Mulroy praised the efforts of the U.S. attorney’s office, stating that law enforcement must be held accountable for excessive force. Lawyers Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci declared that the verdicts reflect that law enforcement officers who commit crimes will face legal consequences.
Former Shelby County Commissioner Tami Sawyer noted the resilience of Tyre Nichols’ parents in their fight for justice since the incident began. Congressman Steve Cohen expressed satisfaction with the jury’s decision but was surprised that the officers were not found guilty of the charges leading to Nichols’ death.