Three former Memphis officers were acquitted Wednesday of all state charges related to the fatal beating of Tyre Nichols. The charges, including second-degree murder, stemmed from an incident in which Nichols died after being attacked by officers during a traffic stop in January 2023.
Nichols’ death led to protests across the country and reignited calls for police reform.
The jury, made up of individuals from a majority-white county, took about 8 and a half hours over two days to deliberate before delivering the not-guilty verdicts for Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, and Justin Smith.
However, the acquittals in state court do not mean the end of the legal battle for the three men. They still face federal charges, for which they were convicted earlier.
Despite being acquitted of the most serious state charges, the defendants could still face years in prison under federal law.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Three former Memphis police officers acquitted on all charges in the fatal beating of Tyre Nichols in 2023. pic.twitter.com/TJA9FWUCkY
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) May 7, 2025
The beating of Tyre Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man, began after he was stopped for a traffic violation.
Nichols fled after being pepper-sprayed and tased, and five officers—who are also Black—chased him down. The officers then beat Nichols, kicking, punching, and hitting him with a baton.
Nichols, just steps from his home, called out for his mother while struggling to breathe. He died three days later, on January 10, 2023.
The horrific incident, captured on a police body camera, showed the officers standing around Nichols as he struggled, laughing and talking, a chilling detail that drew intense scrutiny of the Memphis Police Department.
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who represents Nichols’ family, voiced his outrage at the verdict. He called it “a devastating miscarriage of justice,” stating that “the world watched as Tyre Nichols was beaten to death by those sworn to protect and serve.”
Memphis District Attorney Steve Mulroy, who led the prosecution, expressed disappointment over the verdict, saying he was surprised that the jury did not convict the officers on any of the charges or lesser offenses.
The case has sparked controversy, with defense attorneys defending the officers by emphasizing that their actions followed police protocols and use-of-force standards.
They also brought in character witnesses who praised the officers as good and responsible workers. The prosecution, on the other hand, focused on the brutal nature of the beating and the failure of the officers to intervene or report Nichols’ injuries to medical personnel.
In a critical moment during the trial, former officer Desmond Mills Jr., who was also involved in the beating, testified for the prosecution. Mills expressed regret for his failure to stop the assault, which ultimately led to Nichols’ death from blunt force trauma.
The medical examiner testified that Nichols suffered severe head injuries, including tears and bleeding in his brain.
While Mills and Martin did not face trial in state court, they both pleaded guilty in federal court, where sentencing is still pending for all five officers involved.
