The video of the fatal beating of Tyre Nichols, a 29-year-old man who passed away three days after a police traffic stop, has been made public by Memphis officials on Friday night.
After being stopped by Memphis police on January 7, Tyre Nichols was taken to the hospital in critical condition and passed away three days later.
Police initially claimed Nichols fled during the reckless driving stop and that a “confrontation” took place in an effort to detain him. However, there are few details available about what actually happened between Tyre Nichols and the officers.
However, Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn “C.J.” Davis told MSNBC Friday that an investigation and review of available camera footage could not “substantiate” the reckless driving claim.
Tyre Nichols’ family was offered a private viewing of the video Monday. His mother, RowVaughn Wells, made it only through the first minute, family attorneys Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci said.
While she hasn’t seen all the footage, Wells said “what I’ve heard is very horrific.”
“Any of you who have children, please don’t let them see it,” she added during a news conference Friday.
Meanwhile, the Memphis community is bracing for potential protests in response to the video release, with Memphis-Shelby County Schools canceling after-school activities Friday and Southwest Tennessee Community College moving to virtual classes Friday.
Wells called for people to protest peacefully during a candlelight vigil in Memphis’ Tobey Park on Thursday night.
“I don’t want us burning up our cities, tearing up the streets, because that’s not what my son stood for,” she said.