Sixth officer is 'relieved of duty' after Tyre Nichols' death, Memphis police say - NBC News

The erstwhile officers were charged with second-degree murder, 2 counts of authoritative misconduct, 2 counts of aggravated kidnapping, 1 number of authoritative oppression and 1 number of aggravated assault, prosecutors announced past week.

Hemphill's lawyer released a connection soon aft the section announced disciplinary enactment against his client.

"I tin corroborate that I correspond Memphis Police Officer Preston Hemphill who was the 3rd serviceman astatine the archetypal halt of Mr. Nichols. Video One is his bodycam footage. As per departmental regulations Officer Hemphill activated his bodycam. He was ne'er contiguous astatine the 2nd scene. He is cooperating with officials successful this investigation," Attorney Lee Gerald said successful the statement.

Neither Hemphill nor his household were instantly reached for remark Monday.

A typical with the national representing rank-and-file officers, the Memphis Police Association, was besides not reached.

Nichols, a 29-year-old Black antheral who was an amateur photographer and skateboarder, was hospitalized successful captious information and died 3 days aft the Jan. 7 postulation stop.

Multiple constabulary videos released Friday amusement officers punching, kicking and hitting Nichols with a baton.

There were 3 videos from constabulary assemblage cameras and 1 from a constabulary surveillance camera mounted connected a pole. A assemblage camera video shows Nichols escaped portion connected the crushed and an serviceman changeable a stun weapon astatine him. At slightest 1 serviceman appeared to person been deed with a chemic irritant erstwhile it was sprayed astatine Nichols during the archetypal encounter.

Tyre Nichols.Courtesy Ben Crump Law

Nichols managed to tally to his mother’s vicinity and was astir 80 yards from her location erstwhile helium was seen connected video assaulted by aggregate officers arsenic helium shouted for her help.

Two Shelby County Sheriff’s Office deputies were relieved of work pending an administrative probe successful transportation to Nichols’ death, Sheriff Floyd Bonner Jr. announced Friday nighttime aft watching the video for the archetypal time.

Bonner said helium had “concerns astir 2 deputies who appeared connected the country pursuing the carnal confrontation betwixt constabulary and Tyre Nichols.”

The probe volition look into their behaviour to find what happened and if immoderate policies were violated, the sheriff said. 

Last week, 2 Memphis occurrence unit besides were "relieved of duty" portion that section conducts an interior probe into Nichols's death.

Fire spokesperson Qwanesha Ward said the employees were "involved successful the archetypal diligent care" of Nichols; she did not supply further details.

"This is an ongoing investigation, and we cannot remark further astatine this time," Ward said successful a Jan. 24 statement.

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