Three Ex-Memphis Officers Acquitted in Tyre Nichols Case

Three former Memphis police officers—Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, and Justin Smith—were acquitted on all charges in the state trial regarding the 2023 beating death of Tyre Nichols, after a jury found them not guilty. The verdict, delivered after extensive jury deliberations and review of the case evidence and video footage, was met with disappointment and outrage from Nichols' family, their attorney, and state and local officials. Attorney Ben Crump, representing the Nichols family, called the decision a 'devastating miscarriage of justice,' while Tennessee State Senator Raumesh Akbari described the verdict as a 'brutal injustice.' Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy also expressed deep disappointment with the outcome. The case has sparked renewed calls for police reform and accountability, as advocates and officials emphasize the need for systemic change to prevent further incidents of police brutality. The Nichols family plans to continue seeking justice through civil proceedings.