Ex-MPD officers found not guilty of murdering Tyre Nichols in state trial
Share and Follow


Nichols was beaten Jan. 7, 2023, after a traffic stop that was caught on video, and he died three days later.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — This story will be updated.

In a unanimous decision, the jury in the state trial of three former Memphis Police Department officers charged with the death of Tyre Nichols found the defendants not guilty on all counts.

Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley and Justin Smith all faced charges of murder in the second degree, aggravated assault, two counts of aggravated kidnapping, two counts of official misconduct and official oppression. All three pleaded not guilty to their charges during the first day of the trial. 

They were found not guilty on all charges after jurors deliberated for about nine hours.

Nichols was beaten Jan. 7, 2023, after a traffic stop that was caught on video, and he died three days later. Nichols died of blows to his head, and the manner of death was homicide, an autopsy report released May 4, 2023 showed.

Two other former officers, Emmitt Martin III and Desmond Mills, pleaded guilty to federal charges and testified at the federal trial in 2024. They also pleaded guilty to state charges, but Martin’s state plea deal has not been set in stone like Mills.

The state trial began April 28, 2025. With attorneys previously predicting the case to last around three weeks, Shelby County prosecutors surprised some when they rested their case during day three of the state trial after calling just five witnesses.

More than 20 witnesses were called in total over the course of a week and a half — including Nichols’ mother, Mills and another MPD officer who was fired but not charged for the incident. Martin did not testify. You can read ABC24’s coverage of the trial here.

In the federal trial, Bean, Smith and Haley were all found guilty of obstruction. Bean and Smith were acquitted for three other counts. 

Haley was found guilty of obstruction, conspiracy to commit obstruction and lesser charges of the first two counts, deprivation of civil rights and deliberate indifference resulting in serious bodily injury.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
FILE - Carnival Cruise Line

Stepbrother Emerges as Suspect in Carnival Cruise Passenger’s Death Investigation

A 16-year-old has been identified as a suspect in the death of…
Suspect arrested for murder of woman found shot in Mandarin gym parking lot

Breaking: Suspect Arrested in Chilling Mandarin Gym Parking Lot Murder Case

In Texas, Randy Campbell, aged 31, has been apprehended after being accused…
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan reveals Biden DOJ secretly subpoenaed his phone records: ‘They spied on me’

House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan Accuses Biden’s DOJ of Secretly Subpoenaing Phone Records: Claims of Political Surveillance Emerge

On Thursday, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan announced that the Justice…
ICE in Chicago: Federal judge's report shares details on use of force during Operation Midway Blitz

Unveiled: Federal Judge Exposes ICE’s Controversial Tactics in Chicago’s Operation Midway Blitz

A comprehensive report on Operation Midway Blitz has been unveiled by a…
FILE - The U.S. Department of Education building is seen in Washington, Nov. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)

Tribal Leaders Demand Accountability: How Trump’s Education Reforms Ignored Indigenous Voices

In a move that has sparked concern and criticism, tribal leaders and…
Whale carcass too big to move from Nantucket beach; officials say they'll need to drag it back to sea

Massive Whale Carcass Stranded on Nantucket Beach: Officials Plan Ocean Return

Beachgoers at a Massachusetts shore have been coming together to honor a…
Family of man who coined 'genocide' fights institute using his name to accuse Israel of war crimes

Family Challenges Institute Over Use of ‘Genocide’ Creator’s Name in Israel War Crimes Allegation

A significant group of influential U.S. rabbis is calling on Pennsylvania’s Democratic…
Glynn Co. officer arrested for disorderly conduct after property damage incident at apartment complex

Glynn County Officer Apprehended for Disorderly Conduct Following Property Damage Incident at Apartment Complex

The Glynn County Police Department reports that Officer Johnell D. Leggett, aged…