Three Memphis police officers have been convicted in connection with the beating death of Tyre Nichols.
Following the verdict issued on Thursday evening, many individuals from the Memphis community expressed their condolences to Nichols’ family through social media platforms.
The jury’s decisions in the Tyre Nichols case were as follows: Demetrius Haley was found guilty of excessive force, deliberate indifference to Nichols’ medical needs, conspiracy to tamper with a witness, and witness tampering. Although Haley was convicted on all counts, the jury determined that the first two charges—excessive force and indifference to medical needs—resulted in injury rather than death, leading to lesser charge convictions.
Tadarrius Bean and Justin Smith Jr. were also convicted of witness tampering.
Emmitt Martin III and Desmond Mills Jr. accepted plea deals prior to the trial, pleading guilty to excessive force and conspiracy to tamper with a witness.
The three officers are scheduled for a sentencing hearing on January 22.
In response to the verdicts, District Attorney Steve Mulroy praised the work of the U.S. attorney’s office, stating, “The public deserves to know that those who enforce the law are not above the law: if they use excessive force they’ll be held accountable.”
Attorneys Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci declared, “Today, justice has prevailed for Tyre Nichols and his family,” emphasizing that the verdicts deliver a strong message about accountability for law enforcement officers who engage in criminal behavior.
Former Shelby County Commissioner Tami Sawyer remarked on the resilience of Tyre Nichols’ parents since the day of his fatal beating, saying, “Justice was interesting today, but Tyre Nichols’ parents stood strong.”
Congressman Steve Cohen expressed relief over the jury’s guilty verdicts but noted his surprise that the officers were not held accountable for charges related to Nichols’ death.