January 27, 2023 news on the death of Tyre Nichols

Editor's note: This post contains graphic descriptions of violence.

In body camera video footage released by the city of Memphis Friday, an officer can be seen tying his boot while Tyre Nichols sits on the ground in handcuffs leaning against a police cruiser. 

One officer appears to complain about an injury to his leg and knee. The officers mill about, talking about Nichols escaping custody while he sits next to a police car unattended. 

Nichols slumps over and an officer walks over to pull him back upright before directing him to sit up.

Paramedics appear to show up on scene 10 minutes into the body cam video. Nichols does not appear to be conscious. 

Officers appear to say at least two officers pepper sprayed Nichols, “saying I sprayed, he sprayed.” Then an officer says another officer tased Nichols. 

One officer says, “He swung, pow, almost hit me” followed by a second saying, “Then he reached for (inaudible) gun” while pointing at another officer. One officer says Nichols grabbed his gun saying, “He had his hand on my gun, motherfucker was holding it.” 

An officer later describes the traffic stop involving Nichols saying, “We tried to get him stopped, he didn’t stop."

The officers goes on to say, “He drove around, swerved, nearly hit my car” “He pulled up to the red light, stopped, put his turn signal on."

Nichols is seen in the video rolling slowly on the ground, attempting to speak as a first responder repeatedly tells him, “you can’t go nowhere.” 

The newly released video of the violent arrest of Tyre Nichols is difficult to watch — but it may also be hard to avoid. Some people might even feel duty-bound to watch it as a way to pay tribute to Nichols, who died three days after the confrontation with officers.

Psychologists say the best approach to care for mental health is to know your limits – and possibly to avoid watching the video altogether.

Research shows that frequent exposure to violent news events can cause negative stress reactions. Even witnessing vicarious violence can raise a person’s sense of anxiety and fear and, in some cases, lead to post-traumatic stress disorder.

Dr. Erlanger Turner, a psychologist and assistant professor of psychology at Pepperdine University, said it’s good to do a self-assessment before watching such videos.

Talking to kids: Parents and others who care for children may need to prepare for their questions.

Parents should try to anticipate their kids’ response to seeing or hearing about the video and how to talk about it, Turner said. Will the child be numb to it after seeing so many violent images? Will they be upset? Are they going to be afraid for their parents or for themselves?

Here are some places you can find immediate help:

For resources specific to Black wellness:

Editor's note: This post contains graphic descriptions of violence.

Video taken from a remotely controlled camera mounted on a neighborhood utility pole shows Memphis police officers hitting Tyre Nichols at least nine times without visible provocation.

When the camera first turns toward the police scene, an officer is shown shoving Nichols hard to the pavement with a knee or leg.

Nichols is pulled up by his shoulders and then kicked in the face twice. After being pulled up into a sitting position, Nichols is hit in the back with what appears to be a baton. After being pulled to his knees, Nichols is hit again.

Once pulled to his feet, the video shows officers hitting Nichols in the face multiple times while his hands are restrained behind his body, after which he falls to his knees. Less than a minute later, an officer appears to kick Nichols.

More than three minutes after the encounter is first seen on camera, officers let go of Nichols, and he rolls onto his back.

One minute later, Nichols is dragged along the pavement and propped up in a sitting position against the side of a car, where he is largely ignored by officers for the next three-and-a-half minutes. Ten minutes into the video, a person who appears to be a paramedic finally engages Nichols.

Editor's note: This post contains graphic descriptions of violence.

A Memphis police officer is heard on newly released body camera video of the Jan. 7 arrest of Tyre Nichols, yelling at Nichols, “I’m going to baton the fuck out of you. Give me your fucking hands.”

Tyre Nichols screams for his mom as the video shows officer arriving on scene at a second location, in a residential neighborhood.

Officers tell Nichols to “give them his hand," as a struggle ensues on the ground. An officer asks Nichols, “Do you want to get sprayed again?” 

Two officers hit and kick Nichols as he is on the ground. Nichols screams, “Mooooom.”

An officer then appears to pepper spray Nichols. 

Nichols continue to scream for his mother during the incident.  

Officers continue to tell Nichols to give him their hands as Nichols continues to scream for his mother. 

A group of protesters has shut down the Interstate 55 bridge near downtown Memphis, Tennessee, according to a CNN team on scene. 

The group of about 200 protesters marched from Martyrs Park, on the southern end of downtown, to the bridge. By about 7 p.m. local time (8 p.m. ET), the group had blocked all lanes on the bridge.

Memphis police asked drivers to avoid the area of I-55 and the Arkansas Bridge. 

The demonstration came as CNN and other news outlets publicly played video of Tyre Nichols' beating by police for the first time.

The crowd could be heard chanting, "No justice, no peace."

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Shelby County District Attorney Steven Mulroy said video footage of Tyre Nichols’ arrest was released “because it was important to the community and to Tyre’s family, as they want the world to be their witness and feel their pain.”

“It’s my hope that this tragedy can lead to a broader conversation on police reform. Memphis has a number of local community groups and I urge you to support them in their social justice efforts. We also commit to partnering with them and doing whatever we can with our resources to help our community heal.

Editor's note: This post contains graphic descriptions of violence.

During the initial encounter between Tyre Nichols and Memphis Police, an officer can be seen driving to the scene of a traffic stop. The officer gets out of the car with his gun drawn on the scene. 

As the officer approaches the scene, an officer is yelling at Nichols to “Get the fuck out of the car.” 

Officers pull Nichols out of the vehicle and you can hear someone saying, “Get the fuck on the ground and turn his ass around.” Nichols responds, saying, “I didn’t do anything,” and, “Alright, I’m on the ground.” 

Officers yell at him to lie down and threaten to tase him. Another officer tells him, “Bitch, put your hands behind your back before I break them.”

Nichols can be heard telling them, “You guys are doing a lot right now. I am on the ground.”

A struggle ensues and Nichols gets up and runs, the officers begin to chase him.

The officer can be heard reporting in his radio that the suspect they had has run and gives a description of what Nichols was wearing. 

The officer returns back to the scene where other officers are coughing and one says that he can’t see anything. 

The officer find a bottle of water and they begin pouring it into their eyes. 

The officer unloads his taser cartridge.

President Joe Biden is “outraged and deeply pained to see the horrific video of the beating that resulted in Tyre Nichols’ death,” he said in a statement shortly after the city of Memphis released the footage Friday night.

The president's statement came as CNN and other news outlets played the video for the public for the first time.

“The footage that was released this evening will leave people justifiably outraged. Those who seek justice should not to resort to violence or destruction. Violence is never acceptable; it is illegal and destructive. I join Mr. Nichols’ family in calling for peaceful protest,” Biden said.

The city of Memphis has released police body camera and surveillance video showing the traffic stop and violent police confrontation that led to the death of Tyre Nichols. 

CNN is reviewing the videos.

Five former Memphis officers are charged with second-degree murder and other counts, including assault and kidnapping.  

Two Memphis Fire Department employees who were part of Nichols’ initial care have been relieved of duty, pending the outcome of an internal investigation.