By Edition8 News Staff

May 9, 2025

Three former Memphis police officers, Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, and Justin Smith, were found not guilty by a Tennessee jury on May 7, 2025, of all state charges, including second-degree murder, in connection with the beating death of Tyre Nichols in 2023. Three days after being brutally beaten by Memphis police following a traffic check, Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man, passed away. The incident, captured on camera, ignited nationwide protests and intensified demands for police reform.

Though acquitted, the officers still face federal charges. In a separate trial, they were convicted of witness tampering, with Haley also found guilty of violating Nichols' civil rights causing bodily injury. Sentencing in the federal case is pending.

Benjamin Crump, an attorney for the Nichols family, and civi rights activist, Rev. Al Sharpton, both stress the pressing need for federal legislation, like the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. The act, which is now on hold in the Senate, demands stricter regulations on systemic police misbehaviors.

Nichols' case serves as a reminder of the ongoing fight for justice and substantive police reform in the country. The acquittals have rekindled calls for important adjustments to policing procedures. Nichols' family is suing the city and officers for $550 million.

The outcome of this case highlights the ongoing challenges in addressing police misconduct and the need for continued efforts toward justice and reform.

Ex-Memphis police officers found not guilty in Tyree Nichols case