Body cam footage of Tyre Nichols' death released by police

Memphis, Tennessee, city officials on Friday released body cam footage showing the beating of Tyre Nichols by five Memphis police officers. The graphic video has sparked outrage and ignited protests across the United States.
The body cam footage shows the African-American motorist, 29, being pulled from his car by police officers after a traffic stop on Jan. 7. The officers, who are also all Black, are then seen beating Nichols, repeatedly hitting him with their batons, fists, and boots as he can be heard pleading with them to stop.
The officers can also be seen deploying pepper spray against Nichols as he lay on the ground, screaming for his mother. At one point, Nichols appears to try and get away from the officers, who chase him down and continue beating him.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Additional angles of the attack caught on a corner street camera were also released by police, in which the five officers can be seen propping the bloodied Nichols against one of their cars, fist-bumping each other and celebrating as Nichols lay severely injured in the street.
Nichols would die from his injuries three days later, and the five officers involved were fired by the Memphis Police Department. All five have since been charged with murder in relation to Nichols' death.
The beating has received near-universal condemnation.
Attorneys for Nichols' family, as well as members of law enforcement, described the video as "absolutely appalling," "alarming," and "unconscionable," per Memphis newspaper The Commercial Appeal.
Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn Davis told MSNBC the video was "horrific, alarming, disappointing," and "sad."
The release of the video sparked numerous protests across the United States, the majority of which were seen to be peaceful. Demonstrations were seen in Chicago, New York, and Memphis, and were expected to grow throughout the weekend.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Justin Klawans has worked as a staff writer at The Week since 2022. He began his career covering local news before joining Newsweek as a breaking news reporter, where he wrote about politics, national and global affairs, business, crime, sports, film, television and other news. Justin has also freelanced for outlets including Collider and United Press International.
-
July 6 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Sunday’s political cartoons include paying for school lunch by enlisting, and the banality of evil
-
5 biting editorial cartoons about 'Alligator Alcatraz'
Cartoons Artists take on dangerous green things, historical precedent, and more
-
A journey into the deep past on beautiful Arran
The Week Recommends New Unesco Global Geopark played a 'key role' in the birth of modern geological science
-
Combs convicted on 2 of 5 charges, denied bail
Speed Read Sean 'Diddy' Combs was acquitted of the more serious charges of racketeering and sex trafficking
-
Sniper kills 2 Idaho firefighters in ambush
Speed Read A man started a wildfire, then fired a rifle at first responders when they arrived
-
Weinstein convicted of sex crime in retrial
Speed Read The New York jury delivered a mixed and partial verdict at the disgraced Hollywood producer's retrial
-
'King of the Hill' actor shot dead outside home
speed read Jonathan Joss was fatally shot by a neighbor who was 'yelling violent homophobic slurs,' says his husband
-
DOJ, Boulder police outline attacker's confession
speed read Mohamed Sabry Soliman planned the attack for a year and 'wanted them all to die'
-
Assailant burns Jewish pedestrians in Boulder
speed read Eight people from the Jewish group were hospitalized after a man threw Molotov cocktails in a 'targeted act of violence'
-
Driver rams van into crowd at Liverpool FC parade
speed read 27 people were hospitalized following the attack
-
2 Israel Embassy staff shot dead at DC Jewish museum
speed read The suspected gunman chanted 'free, free Palestine'