Videos show fatal beating of Black man by Memphis city cops in USA, tension mounts

Four videos including one by the city of Memphis in USA on Friday have been released showing police officials brutally beating Tyre Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man. Five police officers have been fired and charged with second-degree murder in his death.

The footage shows the 29-year-old, who died three days after the traffic stop, being kicked, punched, clubbed and more without signs of fighting back.

In the videos, Nichols calls for his mom. She said earlier this week that he was only 80 yards from her house when the cops pounced on him.

Protesters gathered in Memphis, New York and Washington D.C., and other cities on Friday night as others took to social media after four videos of the fatal beating of Tyre Nichols were released. His family asked demonstrators to remain peaceful.

The officers had pulled over Nichols on suspicion of reckless driving around 8:30 p.m. on Jan 7. Police said in a statement that a confrontation ensued, Nichols fled on foot, was pursued by officers and another confrontation occurred. Afterward, Nichols “complained of having a shortness of breath,” the statement said. An ambulance was called and Nichols taken to hospital.

However, on Jan 8, Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy requested the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation to conduct a use-of-force investigation surrounding the arrest, the bureau announced less than 24 hours after the incident.

On Jan 10, Nichols “succumbed to his injuries,” the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said.