3 former Memphis officers acquitted in fatal beating of Tyre Nichols after he fled a traffic stop

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A 29-year-old Black man named Nichols fled a traffic stop after he was forcibly removed from his car, pepper-sprayed, and hit with a Taser.
In a memorial service for Tyre Nichols, a photo is displayed on Jan. 17, 2023, in Memphis, Tenn. Nichols was killed during a traffic stop with Memphis Police on Jan. 7. AP Photo/Adrian Sainz, File

By ADRIAN SAINZ, Associated Press
May 7, 2025 | 4:19 PM
4 minutes read

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — On Wednesday, three former Memphis officers were found not guilty of state charges, including second-degree murder, in the fatal beating of Tyre Nichols after he ran from a traffic stop. Nichols’ death led to nationwide protests and calls for police reforms in the U.S.
Following a nine-day trial in state court in Memphis, a jury, which seemed to consist entirely of white members, took approximately 8 1/2 hours over two days to acquit Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, and Justin Smith on all charges. Upon hearing the verdict, the defendants embraced their attorneys while relatives of the former officers wept. One family member exclaimed, “Thank you, Jesus!”
Martin Zummach, Smith’s lawyer, conveyed to The Associated Press via text: “It’s easy to defend a good person. It’s nerve-wracking to represent an innocent man.”
Although the three defendants were acquitted of the most severe charges last year, they still face potential prison time after being convicted of federal charges. Two other former officers had previously pleaded guilty in both state and federal court, including Emmitt Martin, who defense attorneys held responsible for much of the violence.
Nichols, aged 29 and Black, fled a traffic stop after being forcibly removed from his car, pepper-sprayed, and Tasered. Five Black officers caught up with him and physically assaulted him as he struggled to be handcuffed, all while calling out for his mother just steps away from his home. Nichols passed away on Jan. 10, 2023, three days after the incident.
Video footage of the assault captured by a police pole camera depicted the officers conversing and laughing as Nichols was being attacked, prompting intense scrutiny of the Memphis police force in the predominantly Black city.
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, representing Nichols’ family, expressed outrage at the trial’s outcome.
“The verdicts today are a tragic miscarriage of justice,” the statement read. “The world witnessed Tyre Nichols being fatally beaten by those sworn to protect and serve.”
Memphis District Attorney Steve Mulroy acknowledged the jury’s decision but believed there was sufficient evidence for the charges brought by prosecutors.
“Was I surprised that there wasn’t a single guilty verdict on any of the counts or any of the lesser-included offenses, given the overwhelming evidence that we presented? Yes, I was surprised. Do I have an explanation for it? No.”
Mulroy briefly spoke to Nichols’ family and noted, “They were devastated… I think they were outraged, and we can understand why they would be outraged, given the evidence.”
Defense attorneys argued that Martin was primarily responsible for the violence
Former Memphis officers Desmond Mills Jr. and Martin, involved in the assault, had agreed to plead guilty to state charges and did not stand trial under agreements with prosecutors. They also pleaded guilty in federal court, with sentencing pending for all five officers.
During the trial, the defense highlighted that Martin struck Nichols multiple times in the head.
The defense also presented their use-of-force experts, who testified that the three officers acted in accordance with police department policies and standard law enforcement practices. Bean and Smith’s attorneys called witnesses attesting to their clients’ professionalism as officers.
Mills, testifying for the prosecution, expressed regret for not intervening to stop the beating, which led to Nichols’ death from blunt force trauma. Dr. Marco Ross, the medical examiner who conducted the autopsy, testified in court that Nichols suffered brain tears and bleeding.
The officers faced charges including second-degree murder, aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping, official misconduct, and official oppression. Prosecutors argued that apart from beating Nichols, the officers failed to intervene to halt the assault and neglected to inform medical personnel about Nichols’ head injuries.
The defense contended that Nichols resisted arrest
Mills admitted on the stand that he had a duty to intervene but failed to do so. He also stated that Nichols was resisting arrest and not complying with orders to be handcuffed. Mills indicated that he wouldn’t have struck Nichols if he had complied.
Zummach, Smith’s attorney, questioned Mills about officer safety when a suspect is not handcuffed and searched for weapons, to which Mills replied that they are not safe in that scenario.
Mills recognized that the officers were fearful and fatigued but stated that some of the methods used adhered to police department policies, such as wrist locks and baton strikes.
Zummach noted that credit and debit cards not belonging to Nichols were discovered in his car after the assault, suggesting a potential reason for Nichols fleeing the traffic stop. Defense attorneys argued that if Nichols had allowed himself to be handcuffed, the fatal beating would not have occurred.
“This is Emmitt Martin’s and Tyre Nichols’ doing,” Zummach stated.
The defense also insinuated that Nichols may have been under the influence of drugs, giving him the strength to resist five officers. Some mushrooms containing the hallucinogenic psilocybin were found in his car, as testified by a TBI agent. However, a toxicology report only indicated alcohol and a small amount of marijuana in Nichols’ system.
Mills acknowledged that Nichols did not physically assault any officers.
Defense attorneys claimed that Bean and Smith couldn’t see the head strikes on Nichols due to pepper spray affecting their vision and their focus on restraining him.
Prosecutors cast doubt on this assertion by referencing statements made by the defendants post-assault. According to scene footage, Bean mentioned Nichols was “eating” the blows, Smith said they delivered “so many pieces,” or punches, and Haley said, “beat that man,” as stated by prosecutor Tanisha Johnson.
In December, the U.S. Justice Department revealed findings from a 17-month investigation indicating that the Memphis Police Department engages in excessive force and discriminates against Black individuals.