The funeral for Tyre Nichols, the 29-year-old Black man who died earlier this month after video showed him being beaten by Memphis police officers, got underway Wednesday in Memphis, Tennessee.
Vice President Kamala Harris is joining RowVaughn Wells – Nichols’ mother – and his stepfather Rodney Wells at the Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church to pay tribute to Tyre, who is being remembered as a joyful man who loved photography and skateboarding. Tamika Palmer – the mother of Breonna Taylor – and George Floyd’s brother Philonise also are expected to attend the funeral, with Rev. Al Sharpton delivering the eulogy, according to The Associated Press.
Six Memphis Police Department (MPD) officers in total have been fired in the wake of the Jan. 7 traffic stop, which led to Nichols’ death three days later.
Five of the officers, who are Black, are facing seven counts each in the wake of the incident, including second-degree murder, aggravated kidnapping and official misconduct.
MEMPHIS POLICE TO RELEASE MORE AUDIO, VIDEO FROM TYRE NICHOLS TRAFFIC STOP
This photo provided by the Nichols family shows Tyre Nichols, who had a passion for photography and was described by friends as joyful and lovable.
(Courtesy of the Nichols family via AP)
They have been identified as Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Desmond Mills Jr., Emmitt Martin III and Justin Smith.
An MPD spokesman confirmed on Monday the department relieved Officer Preston Hemphill of duty as well. The 26-year-old officer joined the force in 2018 and allegedly used his taser on Nichols prior to the beating by the five other officers.
A man arranges flowers around Tyre Nichols’ casket at the Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church in Memphis, Tennessee, on Wednesday, Feb. 1.
(Andrew Nelles/The Tennessean via AP/Pool)
TYRE NICHOLS INVESTIGATION: DISTRICT ATTORNEY SAYS ‘THERE’S ABSOLUTELY NO INTENT TO PROTECT ANYBODY’
Preston, who is White, has not yet been charged with a crime in connection to the incident. Memphis police say he is the subject of an ongoing investigation, however.
From left to right, Memphis Police Department Officers Demetrius Haley, Tadarrius Bean, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills and Justin Smith were terminated on Jan. 18 for their role in the arrest of deceased Tyre Nichols.
(Memphis Police Department)
Officials released footage of Nichols’ beating on Friday. It showed the five officers punching, kicking and hitting Nichols with batons as he laid prone.
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The Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church is seen before the start the funeral service for Tyre Nichols in Memphis, Tennessee, on Wednesday, Feb. 1.
(Andrew Nelles/The Tennessean via AP/Pool)
City of Memphis Chief Legal Officer Jennifer Sink also said in a Tuesday evening statement that the city will be holding all additional video and audio relating to the Jan. 7 traffic stop until it completes an administrative investigation, which should occur in the “coming weeks.”
Nichols was taken to St. Francis Hospital in Memphis in critical condition, and died on Jan. 10.
Fox News’ Stephen Sorace, Adam Sabes and Anders Hagstrom contributed to this report.
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