Tyre Nichols Beaten to Death by Memphis SCORPION Unit Officers

Tyre Nichols, 29, was stopped by Memphis Police Department's SCORPION (Street Crimes Operation to Restore Peace in Our Neighborhoods) unit on January 7, 2023. Officers pulled Nichols from his car, pepper-sprayed him, and subjected him to a prolonged beating; he ran and was caught and beaten again. He died three days later on January 10. All five officers — Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills Jr., and Justin Smith — were Black. Video was released January 27; all five were charged with second-degree murder. Memphis disbanded the SCORPION unit. The case prompted debate about whether Black officers in racist systems perpetuate structural violence.