Tyre Nichols’ arrest has been compared to Rodney King’s beating by attorneys

Attorneys for Tyre Nichols said on Monday that Memphis police officers beat him for three minutes in a “savage” encounter reminiscent of the 1991 police beating of Los Angeles motorist Rodney King.

The family viewed police video on Monday showing Nichols was shocked, peppersprayed and restrained after he was stopped by a police officer on Jan. 7 minutes from his home as he returned from a suburban park where he had taken photos of the sunset. It was reported by another attorney, Antonio Romanucci, that Nichols, who was Black, was kicked before Crump stopped him from saying more.

Nichols’ family agreed to investigators’ request to wait a week or two before making the video public to ensure the family receives what they want most, which is justice, according to Crumbp. Investigators do not want to compromise the investigation, Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy said in a statement Monday.

Crump called the encounter “savage” and out of proportion to the alleged offense. Romanucci called it “troublesome on every level.”

Despite the possibility of unrest, Rodney Wells, Nichols’ stepfather, has asked that protesters remain peaceful, saying that violence “will not bring Tyre back.”

According to Nichols’ family, the police beat him and caused him to suffer a heart attack and kidney failure. According to authorities, Nichols had a medical emergency.

A civil rights investigation has been initiated by the U.S. Justice Department into the arrest, and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is investigating whether excessive force was employed.

Despite his stepson’s good reason for running from the officers, Nichols’ stepfather Rodney Wells told reporters that the family wants the officers charged with first-degree murder. In Rodney Wells’ view, his son ran because he was afraid for his life. “You will see why he was afraid once you see the video.”

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