Forensic Report Labels Black Man’s Death by Police Violence as Murder
Autopsy Report Confirms Murder of Black Man Beaten by Police in Tennessee
A recent autopsy report released by the coroner in Memphis has confirmed that Tire Nichols, a 29-year-old black man, died from severe head injuries inflicted on him by 6 police officers in the city of Memphis, Tennessee. Nichols, a FedEx driver, was stopped by the police on January 7 for “careless driving” and was beaten during the detention process. The report described Nichols’ death as “murder,” noting multiple bruises, brain injuries, cuts, and bruises on his head and other parts of the body.
“The official autopsy report furthers our commitment to seek justice for this senseless tragedy,” said Ben Crump, Nichols’ family lawyer, in a statement. Nichols’ mother has also sued both the Memphis city government and police department for $550 million in federal damages.
Following the release of the footage of the beating, demonstrations were held in several cities across the United States, including Boston, Chicago, Detroit, New York, and Portland, against police violence. The Memphis Police Department suspended the 6 police officers involved in the incident, and 3 firefighters were dismissed. A lawsuit has been filed against the police officers on the charge of “murder.”
