Sixth US police officer fired over beating death of Tyre Nichols

5 different officers had already been fired and charged with homicide over the dying of the 29-year-old Black man.

Mourners arrive on the funeral service for Tyre Nichols [Jeff Roberson/AP Photo]

The Memphis Police Division on Friday mentioned it had fired a sixth officer concerned within the arrest of Tyre Nichols, the 29-year-old African American whose deadly beating shocked the nation.

Preston Hemphill, who had been within the southern US metropolis’s police pressure since 2018, “violated a number of departmental insurance policies,” together with on “private conduct,” “truthfulness” and laws on Taser gun use, the division mentioned in a press release.

5 different officers had already been fired and charged with homicide over Nichols’ dying.

“Whereas we disagree with this termination, Preston Hemphill will proceed to cooperate with all authorities within the investigation into the dying of Mr Nichols,” Lee Gerald, a lawyer representing Hemphill, mentioned by phone, based on Reuters information company.

Individuals carry banners and indicators on the day a video is launched exhibiting Memphis police beating Tyre Nichols, at a protest in New York, US [File: Andrew Kelly/Reuters]

Gerald declined to touch upon whether or not his shopper would additionally face prison costs, however mentioned of his cooperation with the investigation: “That speaks for itself.”

Hemphill, a white man, had been suspended because the starting of the division’s investigation, however that was not made public till Monday.

Nichols was arrested by members of a particular police unit known as Scorpion on January 7 for what police mentioned was a visitors violation.

Footage of his vicious beating, recorded on physique cameras and safety cameras, triggered nationwide outrage when it was made public final week.

Police video confirmed Hemphill on the preliminary visitors cease when officers tried to detain Nichols, however he was not among the many officers who chased Nichols down and beat him.

Shelby County District Lawyer Steve Mulroy has mentioned different cops, hearth division personnel and others who ready documentation of the incident can also face prison costs as extra info turns into obtainable.

A funeral for Nichols was held on Wednesday, with Vice President Kamala Harris in attendance.

Legislators and civil rights advocates in america are calling on President Joe Biden’s administration to do extra to advance police reform in mild of Nichols’ dying.

Harris, in a speech on the funeral, mentioned Washington would accept nothing lower than bold federal laws to finish police violence.