Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Tyre Nichols cries out for his mother in video of deadly beating by Memphis police

‘Watch out, I’m going to baton the f*** out of you’

Andrew Buncombe
Seattle
Saturday 28 January 2023 01:48 GMT
Comments
Tyre Nichols: Video released of Memphis police beating Black man

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Tyre Nichols is seen calling out for his mother after being pursued, punched and pepper-sprayed by police in Memphis newly released video.

They are later seen bragging about punching him, in footage packed with expletives.

“I was hitting him with straight haymakers, dog” says one officer.

Another is heard to say: “I jumped in, started rocking him.”

After days of mounting demands from the family of the unarmed 29-year-old who died a couple of days after the Jan 7 stop by police, authorities released up to an hour of disturbing footage showing Mr Nichols being chased by a special group of officers.

Earrlier this week, officials said the man’s last words had been of his mother, RowVaughn Wells.

In one video, Mr Nichols is shown on the ground with officers around him, and he can be heard repeatedly screaming: “Mom, Mom, Mom.”

Lawyers have said that his mother’s home was about 100 yards away from where he was beaten.

On Friday, the young man’s mother said she had not seen the video and did not want to.

“No mother should go through what I am going through right now, no mother, to lose their child to the violent way that I lost my child,” she said.

Before the video was released, President Joe Biden spoke with the dead man’s mother and step-father.

After it was released, he said he was “outraged” and “deeply pained” after watching the violent encounter.

“Like so many, I was outraged and deeply pained to see the horrific video of the beating that resulted in Tyre Nichols’ death,” he said in a statement.

He added the Nichols’ familiy deserves a swift, full and transparent investigation.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in