Tyre Nichols Death: Memphis Fire Department Fires 3 After Victim Found ‘Handcuffed And Beaten’

The Memphis Fire Department sacked three members over the death of motorist Tyre Nichols after investigators revealed the victim was left handcuffed and beaten without medical attention

Tyre Nichols, 29, died three days after a 7 January traffic stop spiralled into a fatal physical assault.

The Memphis Fire Department sacked three members on Monday in connection to the fatal police confrontation with motorist Tyre Nichols after investigators revealed the victim was left handcuffed and beaten without medical attention for nearly 15 minutes.

In a statement, the fire department said emergency medical technicians Robert Long and JaMichael Sandridge failed to assess the condition of the victim as they arrived. The statement added that fire Lieutenant Michelle Whitaker, who drove them to the scene remained confined to her vehicle, reported news agency Reuters.

An internal review of their conduct found that all three fire department employees "violated numerous (fire department) policies and protocols," the statement issued by Fire Chief Gina Sweat said.

Who’s Tyre Nichols?

Tyre Nichols, 29, died three days after a 7 January traffic stop spiralled into a fatal physical assault, The Guardian reported citing local jail records. The case has brought back the focus on police brutality in the US after the death of George Floyd in 2020.  

The family described him as a "beautiful soul" with a passion for skateboarding, sunsets and photography, according to the news agency Reuters.

The terminations of the officers came after seven of its officers were relieved of duty for their roles in the confrontation that led to the January 10 death of Nichols. That tally included five officers who previously were dismissed from the force and were charged last week with murder.

Meanwhile, lawyers for Nichols' family have highlighted the fatal beating as the latest instance of racially biased police using unjustified lethal force against an African American. The five officers charged in this case were themselves Black.

A sixth officer, Preston Hemphill, was also suspended with pay pending a hearing while a seventh officer was also relieved of duty without pay, the police department said. However, no criminal charges have been filed against Hemphill, 26 or against the seventh officer.

The five officers dismissed on Jan. 20 - Justin Smith, Desmond Mills Jr., Emmitt Martin III, Demetrius Haley and Tadarrius Bean - were charged Thursday with second-degree murder, assault, kidnapping, official misconduct and oppression in the fatal beating of Nichols.