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January 24, 2023

Video Shows Memphis Cops Brutally Beat Tyre Nichols "Like a Human Piņata"
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In Tennessee, the parents of a 29-year-old African American man who died
after he was brutally beaten by Memphis police officers say their son
was "defenseless" during his ordeal. Tyre Nichols died of kidney failure
and cardiac arrest on January 10, three days after his violent arrest
following a traffic stop. On Monday, Memphis officials privately showed
police body-camera footage of Nichols's arrest to family and attorneys.
They said, after viewing the video, that Nichols was pepper-sprayed,
tased, restrained, kicked and beaten. This is family attorney Antonio
Romanucci.

Antonio Romanucci: "He was defenseless the entire time. He was a human
piņata for those police officers. It was an unadulterated, unabashed,
nonstop beating of this young boy for three minutes."

Row Vaughn Wells: "Oh my god!"

Antonio Romanucci: "That is what we saw in that video."

In the wake of Nichols's death, Memphis police officials fired five
officers for violating department policies, including excessive use of
force and failing to render aid. Like Nichols, all five of the former
officers are Black. Tyre Nichols was a skilled skateboarder, an amateur
photographer, and father to a young son.


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