Who is Justin Smith? Ex-Memphis police officer charged with murder over Tyre Nichols' death
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE: Five Memphis ex-police officers have been charged with the second-degree murder, of FedEx driver Tyre Nichols. It was on January 10, when the 29-year-old, black man, succumbed to his fatal injuries suffered during a violent altercation with the cops after a traffic stop. Some of the other criminal charges that are now being slapped on these former officers, namely, Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills, Jr., and Justin Smith, include aggravated assault, two counts of aggravated kidnapping, two counts of official misconduct, and official oppression.
“We are going to see acts that defy humanity, a disregard for life, duty of care, and a level of physical interaction that is above and beyond what is required in law enforcement,” said Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn Davis, on Friday morning, January 27. The footage which Davis refers to as the ‘worst she has witnessed in her career’ will be shared on YouTube by the police department at 7 pm EST, as they anticipate violent protests. Talking with CNN, Davis added, “I'm sure that individuals watching will feel what the family felt. And if you don't, then you're not a human being. I would say it is about the same if not worse than the 1991 beating of Rodney King. A group-think mentality.” The police chief revealed that Nichols called out his mother, as per the police body cam, which will be uploaded in a few hours on the department’s official social media channel.
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"It's about human dignity, integrity, accountability, and the duty to protect our community."
— CNN This Morning (@CNNThisMorning) January 27, 2023
Memphis Police Chief tells @donlemon she does not believe race was a factor in Tyre Nichols' violent arrest pic.twitter.com/icbIG39leS
Who is Justin Smith?
One of the five co-accused officers in Tyre Nichols' death, Justin Smith, is a resident of Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee, and joined the Memphis Police Department in March 2018. A year younger than the victim, at 28, his marital status is single as per police records. On January 7, Smith along with his fellow officers Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, and Desmond Mills Jr, allegedly caused the heinous injuries on Nichols, which led to his death three days later in a hospital on January 10. The ex-officer was fired on January 20, by the police department and subsequently arrested on January 26, and charged with second-degree murder, official oppression, aggravated kidnapping while possessing a weapon, aggravated assault – acting in concert, official misconduct thru unauthorized exercising of official power, two counts of aggravated kidnapping causing bodily injury and two counts of official misconduct through failure to perform a duty imposed by law.
"They beat my son like a piñata. My son, he had Crohn's disease, he had surgery in 2013. My son weighed a buck 50."@donlemon speaks to Tyre Nichols' parents ahead of release of police beating video pic.twitter.com/GSzIGcKdP9
— CNN This Morning (@CNNThisMorning) January 27, 2023
Steve Mutlroy, Shelby County District attorney said the victim was left 'bloody and bruised' after he was first pepper sprayed, and then beaten to death just a few yards away from his residence. Earlier, Nichols’ mother told CNN that her son was ‘beat like a piñata,’ “Yes, he cried out for me because I'm his mother. He was trying to get home to safety. He was a mamma's boy. He loves me to death. He has my name tattooed on his arm. He had Crohn's disease, and he had surgery in 2013.” Justin Smith is currently out on a $250,000 bond.