Tyre Nichols (/ˈtaɪ.ri ˈnɪk.əlz/ TY-ree[1]) died on January 10, 2023, three days after five Memphis Police Department officers beat him during a traffic stop on January 7.[2][3] Stopped for alleged reckless driving,[a] Nichols was pulled from his car by officers who used pepper spray and a taser on him. Nichols managed to get away; one officer, as other officers pursued Nichols, said "I hope they stomp his ass". When officers caught up with Nichols they beat him for about three minutes, punching and kicking him in the head and striking him on the back with a baton even while he was restrained. Nichols was hospitalized in critical condition and died three days later.[6] An autopsy commissioned by his family found "extensive bleeding caused by a severe beating". Media outlets reported the videos did not appear to show Nichols doing anything to provoke the beating.
