DOJ opens civil rights investigation into traffic stop that preceded Tyre Nichols' death
The Department of Justice and FBI on Wednesday announced a civil rights inquiry into a traffic stop in Memphis, Tennessee, that preceded the death of a Black man.
The Department of Justice and FBI on Wednesday announced a civil rights inquiry into a traffic stop in Memphis, Tennessee, that preceded the death of a Black man.
Tyre Nichols, 29, died three days after being taken to a hospital in critical condition following the Jan. 7 stop. The Memphis Police Department said the case was referred to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation the next day, and an internal investigation was opened into the incident.
The U.S. Attorney's Office of the Western District of Tennessee announced Wednesday that the FBI's Memphis field office and the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice have also begun looking into the Nichols' death.
"As this is an open investigation, we are not able to provide additional comment or release further information at this time," Kevin G. Ritz, U.S. attorney for the district, said.
Nichols' family has retained civil rights attorney Ben Crump and have demanded the public release of body camera and any other surveillance footage from the stop.
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