Three former Memphis, Tenn., police officers involved in the fatal beating of Tire Nichols were found guilty Thursday of witness tampering, but two were acquitted of federal civil rights charges.
Tadarius Bean, Demetrius Haley and Justin Smith were all found guilty Thursday afternoon after jurors deliberated for about six hours. Bean and Smith were acquitted of civil rights charges, and Haley was acquitted of violating Nichols' civil rights causing death. Haley was found guilty of violating Nichols' civil rights and causing bodily harm.
Nichols' mother, Louvaughn Wells, She said she was “shocked” Following the jury's verdict.
“This has been a long journey for our family,” she said. “We are pleased that they have all been convicted and arrested.”
The former officers were remanded in custody, but a judge will hold a hearing on Monday to hear about their release pending sentencing.
A conviction for witness tampering could carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
“A win is a win. They're all going to jail,” said Rodney Wells, Nichols' stepfather. Associated Press after the verdict was read.
Nichols, 29, died from fatal injuries sustained during a traffic stop in Memphis in January 2023.
Memphis police initially claimed Nichols was stopped for reckless driving, but authorities later acknowledged there was no evidence to support that claim.
Graphic video footage of the encounter showed officers using pepper spray, stun guns and repeatedly striking Nichols. In the video, he could be heard screaming for his mother throughout the incident. Jurors watched police video clips repeatedly during the trial against Bean, Haley and Smith.
Nichols died on January 10, three days after being injured.
Last September, a federal grand jury indicted all five former Memphis police officers involved in Nichols' death on charges of deprivation of privilege, conspiracy to tamper with a witness and obstruction of justice.
Emmitt Martin and Desmond Mills Jr. pleaded guilty and testified against the other three members.
According to the Associated Press, a tearful Mills testified that she was sorry for the beating, noting that it had left Nichols' son without a father. Mills also testified that she wished she had stopped punching him and that she cooperated with the cover-up in hopes that Nichols would survive and everything would “blow over.”
Martin testified Tuesday that two co-workers held the 29-year-old's arm and told Martin to “hit him,” while he also punched the “helpless” Nichols at least five times.
Martin faces up to 40 years in prison for federal civil rights violations, while prosecutors are seeking 15 years in prison for Mills, who pleaded guilty in November 2023 to federal charges of excessive force and obstruction of justice. Agreed to recommend a prison term of not more than 20 years.
All five former officers were also charged with second-degree murder in state court. The trial will begin once federal proceedings are completed.
Ben Crump, a civil rights attorney representing Nichols' family, said outside the courtroom Thursday: “It's very important that the jury found that all of them foresaw the crime in some way.” “Tire Nichols' death will not go unnoticed.”
