Memphis

Tyre Nichols: All 5 Former Memphis Police Plead Not Guilty

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The five former Memphis police officers charged with second degree murder for the death of Tyre Nichols all pleaded not guilty to the crime. Moreover, the court arraigned Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills Jr., and Justin Smith on Friday morning (February 17). Furthermore, officials also charged them with aggravated assault and kidnapping. In addition, Memphis PD terminated them from their posts on January 21, shortly after the incident. Their next court date is on May 1, and the judge said the case may take some time.

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, UNITED STATES – 2023/01/27: Protesters hold placards and a banner in Downtown Boston expressing their opinion concerning the police killing of Tyre Nichols. Around 100 demonstrators gathered at the entrance of the Boston Common, demanding justice for the killing of Tyre Nichols. Demonstrators later marched around the Boston Common and passed the Massachusetts State Capitol Building. (Photo by Vincent Ricci/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

“This is the beginning of the process,” Nichols’ mother RowVaughn Wells stated after the hearing. “I want each and every one of those police officers to look me in the face. They did not do that today.” Alongside attorney Ben Crump, Nichols’ family spoke to the media in a press conference following Friday’s hearing. “It’s important that we move swiftly toward justice, so we don’t want there to be any unnecessary delays in prosecuting this case,” Crump expressed. However, one of the police officer’s attorneys said that much about the case is still unclear.

“There’s a lot we don’t know,” said attorney William Casey, who represents defendant Martin. “There’s a lot that we don’t see, and we want to be able to present a complete picture of this stop, particularly the initial stop.” Not only did the police department fire these officers, but they shut down the SCORPION Unit they belonged to. “That particular night, you’re looking at an isolated incident and [trying] to measure the person.” That was defense attorney John Keith Perry, representative of former officer Bean.

Furthermore, the five officials beat Nichols at a traffic stop, who was a 29-year-old father. He passed away three days after the incident, and footage from the stop made rounds on media platforms. Also, authorities will issue a “statement of charges” to several more Memphis force members for policy violations in this case. While other law officials face repercussions for their involvement in the tragedy, most eyes are on the five defendants. Stay tuned to HNHH for the latest pressing updates from the Tyre Nichols case.

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Nike Warehouse Robbed In Memphis: Watch Viral Footage

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If you work in a Nike warehouse, then you are surrounded by some very expensive sneakers. Overall, Nike is the biggest sportswear brand in the entire world. They have dozens upon dozens of different silhouettes to choose from. Additionally, they have a whole plethora of colorways for those silhouettes. Needless to say, a single warehouse can be filled with thousands of dollars of merchandise, and that would be an underestimate. Regardless, Nike understands this and tries its best to protect its warehouses.

Unfortunately, there are lots of people out there who have some nefarious motivations. These motivations could lead them to lie, cheat, and in the case of our next story, steal. According to numerous viral videos on Twitter, a Nike warehouse in Memphis was robbed in broad daylight. Moreover, a video of the entire ordeal was posted to social media and is now drawing a ton of attention. Overall, it is a bad look for everyone involved. Furthermore, people are looking for answers that simply are not readily available right now.

Nike Warehouse Robbery

In the video clip above, you can see the warehouse being ransacked by a few individuals. There are all sorts of boxes being moved around, however, it is hard to track who has what. Meanwhile, a plethora of employees attempted to thwart the robbery as they got in harm’s way. Some employees even found themselves in physical altercations with those who were attempting to rob the warehouse. At this point, there is no information as to how many perpetrators were involved. Additionally, the amount of goods stolen is also unknown. No matter what, it is an unfortunate situation that Nike will certainly be investigating soon.

As for law enforcement, there doesn’t seem to be much in the way of information from them either. Overall, this is a story that is only in the midst of developing. Either way, we hope all of the employees are doing okay as this could have been exceptionally dangerous for all involved. Stay tuned to HNHH as we will deliver the latest news and updates from around the sneaker world.

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Sixth Memphis Police Removed From Duty as Tyre Nichols’ Death Investigation Proceeds

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Sixth Memphis Police Removed From Duty as Tyre Nichols' Death Investigation Proceeds

Officer Preston Hemphill was removed from duty on the Memphis Police force for his participation in the death of Tyre Nichols. According to a Memphis police rep Karen Rudolph was removed from the force, but charges were not announced.

Rudolph also did not announce what role Hemphill played in the deadly beating.

29-year-old Nichols was pulled over by officers on Jan. 7 and died shortly after the encounter. Five Memphis police officers have been fired and charged with the murder.

The fired officers are Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills Jr., and Justin Smith. They are all in Shelby County Jail for participating in the incident leading to Nichols’ death.

The Daily News notes Martin, Smith, and Bean received charges of second-degree murder, three counts of official misconduct, two counts of aggravated kidnapping, and one count of acting in concert to commit aggravated assault. Mills and Haley also received second-degree murder charges, along with two counts of official misconduct, two counts of aggravated kidnapping, one count of official oppression, and one count of acting in concert to commit aggravated assault.

“The breadth and the depth of the charges announced today speaks to the deliberate and thorough investigation this case has received,” Tennessee Bureau of Investigation director David Rausch said. “And our work is not finished. We continue to pursue every lead. Justice demands it.”

In response to Hemphill’s punishment, the sixth officer involved in the traffic stop that resulted in Tyre Nichols’ death had been ‘relieved of duty,’ nationally recognized civil rights and personal injury attorneys Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci issued a statement. Officer Preston Hemphill may be seen on camera aggressively removing Nichols from his car while using a Taser on him on the ground, later adding, “I hope they stomp his ass” as Nichols fled.

“The news today from Memphis officials that Officer Preston Hemphill was reportedly relieved of duty weeks ago, but not yet terminated or charged, is extremely disappointing. Why is his identity and the role he played in Tyre’s death just now coming to light? We have asked from the beginning that the Memphis Police Department be transparent with the family and the community – this news seems to indicate that they haven’t risen to the occasion. It certainly begs the question why the white officer involved in this brutal attack was shielded and protected from the public eye, and to date, from sufficient discipline and accountability. The Memphis Police Department owes us all answers.”

The family’s attorneys, Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci said in a separate joint statement detailing Nichols “suffered extensive bleeding caused by a severe beating.”

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The post Sixth Memphis Police Removed From Duty as Tyre Nichols’ Death Investigation Proceeds appeared first on The Source.

NLE Choppa Organizes Peaceful Protest In Memphis Over Death Of Tyre Nichols

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NLE Choppa organized a peaceful protest in his home city of Memphis to call for justice for Tyre Nichols. Moreover, he is one of many artists using their platform to honor the late Tyre’s memory and demand humane treatment from law enforcement. Furthermore, Choppa made the call to gather on Twitter and shared his experience on social platforms.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 24: NLE Choppa attends I Will Graduate Day 2022 at Barclays Center on October 24, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage)

“#SkateForTyre 4687 Cottonwood Rd At 2PM,” the rapper wrote. “Let’s Do Something Peaceful And Loving For Something Tyre Loved To Do #SPREADTHIS #MEMPHIS #901.” On TikTok, he posted a compilation of the event. “I Came Across This Video Of Tyre Skating So I Wanted To Dedicate A SKATE In The Streets For Him,” he wrote.

Later, videos from the gathering show the 20-year-old with a group of community members. As they march, they chant “No justice, no peace, we gon’ skate for Tyre” and “Skate for Tyre, skate for Tyre.” After police officers beat Nichols at a traffic stop, people shared videos of him skating to celebrate his life while demanding justice for his loss.

Also, the “Shotta Flow” artist published a video to social media addressing the situation and handling grief in times like these. Additionally, he shared his thoughts on footage spreading of the incident online that elaborate on his video.

“I’ll never respect how footage is released of something so gruesome to keep people vibrating in the state of fear, anger, and hate!” he tweeted. “It should be way more respect for his innocent soul and even his FAMILY. What happened to rest in “PEACE” SMFH !! #RIPTyreNichols.”

Furthermore, videos of the protest also show two armed men in all-black, seemingly members of law enforcement or security. While it’s unclear why he was there, he did not disturb the protest in these clips as Choppa rolled a skateboard beside him. Also, the rapper shared his appreciation for those present at the gathering.

“I wanna thank y’all for coming out here and being a part of something,” he told the crowd. “I know it’s hard, it’s hard for us to all come together. It’s kind of sad and tragic for us to get like this. But be grateful for it, I’m grateful for it, for everybody being together. I just want to thank y’all for being a part of this. You’re standing for something, everybody here standing for something. So I appreciate y’all for coming.”

@nlechoppamusic

#SkateForTyre #justicefortyre Thank You Memphis For Coming And Doing Someting That TYRE LOVED, 💜.

♬ original sound – NLE choppa

Overall, what do you think of NLE Choppa’s peaceful protest honoring Tyre Nichols? Whatever the case, let us know in the comments down below. Also, come back to HNHH for the latest on Tyre Nichols and the community fighting for justice and his memory.

Rest In Peace Tyre Nichols.

African American Mayors Association Release Statement on the Death of Tyre Nichols at the Hands of Memphis Police officers

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City of Memphis Prepares for Video Release After Five Police Officers are Charged with the Murder of Tyre Nichols

Ahead of the release of the video of five Memphis officers’ assault of now-deceased 29-year-old Tyre Nichols, the African American Mayors Association released a statement to The SOURCE.

The statement reads:

The African American Mayors Association (AAMA) is heartbroken by the tragic and brutal death of Tyre Nichols at the hands of five Memphis police officers. We extend our deepest condolences to the family of Mr. Nichols and the entire Memphis community as they search for peace and justice for the senseless loss of this young, Black man.

“In this nation, a routine traffic stop should not be a death sentence, but tragically that was the case for Tyre Nichols. As a Black man and a Mayor, my heart aches for the Memphis community as they seek healing, answers, and accountability from those charged to protect not harm them,” said AAMA President and Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott, Jr. “We are heartened by the swift termination and arrest of the officers involved, but that’s not enough. We join with the family of Mr. Nichols and the people of Memphis in calling for a transparent and just investigation to ease their understandable pain and restore public trust.”

With the public release of footage showing the violent beating of Tyre Nichols, AAMA continues to push for meaningful reforms to prevent police brutality by any officer and rebuild faith in those called to serve our communities. Further, we call for peaceful protests as we continue to work towards what Dr. King called the moral arc of justice.

The five Memphis police officers have been fired and charged with the murder of Nichols. Nichols was pulled over by officers on Jan. 7 and died shortly after the encounter.

The fired officers are Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills Jr., and Justin Smith. They are all in Shelby County Jail for participating in the incident leading to Nichols’ death.

The Daily News notes Martin, Smith, and Bean received charges of second-degree murder, three counts of official misconduct, two counts of aggravated kidnapping, and one count of acting in concert to commit aggravated assault. Mills and Haley also received second-degree murder charges, along with two counts of official misconduct, two counts of aggravated kidnapping, one count of official oppression, and one count of acting in concert to commit aggravated assault.

“The breadth and the depth of the charges announced today speaks to the deliberate and thorough investigation this case has received,” Tennessee Bureau of Investigation director David Rausch said. “And our work is not finished. We continue to pursue every lead. Justice demands it.”

Video of the incident is set to be released Friday (Jan. 27). Ahead of the release, USA Today notes President Joe Biden has called for peaceful protests in advance, while the city of Memphis has called off all after-school activities.

After the traffic stop, Nichols was hospitalized in critical condition, ultimately dying three days later. The Nichols family and their representing attorneys have seen parts of the footage detailing Nichols was beaten by the arresting officers for several minutes.

Speaking at a candlelight vigil, Nichols’ mother, RowVaughn Wells, warned what was to come and asked for peace.

“I don’t want us burning up our city, tearing up the streets, because that’s not what my son stood for,” she said. “If you guys are here for me and Tyre, then you will protest peacefully. You can get your point across but we don’t need to tear up our cities, people, because we do have to live in them.”

FBI Director Chris Wray, who also saw the video, called it “appalling.”

Ahead of the release, Mills and Martin have pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Nichols was pulled over on the night of Jan. 7 on suspicion of reckless driving. After an initial “confrontation,” Nichols ran but was arrested, leading to another “confrontation.” Nichols was hospitalized in critical condition after complaining of shortness of breath.

The family’s attorneys, Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci released a joint statement detailing Nichols “suffered extensive bleeding caused by a severe beating.”

The post African American Mayors Association Release Statement on the Death of Tyre Nichols at the Hands of Memphis Police officers appeared first on The Source.

City of Memphis Prepares for Video Release After Five Police Officers are Charged with the Murder of Tyre Nichols

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City of Memphis Prepares for Video Release After Five Police Officers are Charged with the Murder of Tyre Nichols

Five Memphis police officers have been fired and charged with the murder of 29-year-old Tyre Nichols. Nichols was pulled over by officers on Jan. 7 and died shortly after the encounter.

The fired officers are Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills Jr., and Justin Smith. They are all in Shelby County Jail for participating in the incident leading to Nichols’ death.

The Daily News notes Martin, Smith, and Bean received charges of second-degree murder, three counts of official misconduct, two counts of aggravated kidnapping, and one count of acting in concert to commit aggravated assault. Mills and Haley also received second-degree murder charges, along with two counts of official misconduct, two counts of aggravated kidnapping, one count of official oppression, and one count of acting in concert to commit aggravated assault.

“The breadth and the depth of the charges announced today speaks to the deliberate and thorough investigation this case has received,” Tennessee Bureau of Investigation director David Rausch said. “And our work is not finished. We continue to pursue every lead. Justice demands it.”

Video of the incident is set to be released Friday (Jan. 27). Ahead of the release, USA Today notes President Joe Biden has called for peaceful protests in advance, while the city of Memphis has called off all after-school activities.

After the traffic stop, Nichols was hospitalized in critical condition, ultimately dying three days later. The Nichols family and their representing attorneys have seen parts of the footage detailing Nichols was beaten by the arresting officers for several minutes.

Speaking at a candlelight vigil, Nichols’ mother, RowVaughn Wells, warned what was to come and asked for peace.

“I don’t want us burning up our city, tearing up the streets, because that’s not what my son stood for,” she said. “If you guys are here for me and Tyre, then you will protest peacefully. You can get your point across but we don’t need to tear up our cities, people, because we do have to live in them.”

FBI Director Chris Wray, who also saw the video, called it “appalling.”

Ahead of the release, Mills and Martin have pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Nichols was pulled over on the night of Jan. 7 on suspicion of reckless driving. After an initial “confrontation,” Nichols ran but was arrested, leading to another “confrontation.” Nichols was hospitalized in critical condition after complaining of shortness of breath.

The family’s attorneys, Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci released a joint statement detailing Nichols “suffered extensive bleeding caused by a severe beating.”

The post City of Memphis Prepares for Video Release After Five Police Officers are Charged with the Murder of Tyre Nichols appeared first on The Source.

BlocBoy JB Shares New Single “MURSIC”

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BlocBoy JB returned to the fold this week with the release of his new single, “Mursic.”

Following jokes surrounding the Memphis accent spreading across social media, BlocBoy JB is capitalizing off of the memes with his latest single. On “Mursic,” the Memphis rapper takes on slow-burning production, stamped with an undeniably hypnotic vocal sample, thudding 808s, and an infectious whistle, courtesy of KareyMuney.

LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 31: BlocBoy JB attends the REVOLVE ‘LA Party In London’ hosted by Winnie Harlow at Hotel Cafe Royal on May 31, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images for REVOLVE)

BlocBoy glides over the production with newfound hunger as he confronts his enemies. He details street violence and, above all, how it can overlap into hip-hop. It’s a refreshing offering from BlocBoy JB.

The rapper teased the single along with two other snippets. Shortly after asking his fans for their input, it seems like the consensus landed on “Mursic.”

ATLANTA, GEORGIA – APRIL 30: Rapper Blocboy JB attends his meet & greet at DTLR Camp Creek Market Place on April 30, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)

BlocBoy JB appears to be revving up for a big year ahead. Though “Mursic” marks his first release of the new year, he capped off 2022 with the release of “Year Of 23.”

BlocBoy JB could be revving up to finally drop off a new project in the near future. The Memphis artist hasn’t dropped a solo album since 2020’s Fatboy. However, he linked up with Tay Keith in early 2022 for their joint effort, Bacc 2 Da Blocc.

Quotable Lyrics
Have you ever slid on a n***a block
Leave him runnin’, holdin’ on his eye
But this just music, huh?
Y’aint scarin’ me with that gun,
Lil n***a, better use it, huh

Memphis PD Address Death Of Tyre Nichols In New Statement

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The Memphis Police Department has released a statement addressing the death of Tyre Nichols. The department has already fired five police officers involved in the traffic stop that led to his death.

In their new statement, the department says that they have reviewed footage of the incident. Additionally, they claim to be fully cooperating with US Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, and the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office in the investigation into the matter.

MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE – SEPTEMBER 7: Police investigate the scene of a reported carjacking reportedly connected to a series of shootings on September 7, 2022 in Memphis, Tennessee. Memphis police arrested a 19-year-old man in connection with the shootings of multiple people across the city while allegedly livestreaming the crimes on Facebook, according to published reports. (Photo by Brad Vest/Getty Images)

The Memphis PD has argued that a “confrontation” occurred during the traffic stop, resulting in Nichols fleeing. They say “another confrontation” occurred after they caught up to him, resulting in the incident.

Nichols’ stepfather, Rodney Wells, told reporters that his son had good reason to flee from the police.

“Our son ran because he was scared for his life,” Wells said, before adding, “And when you see the video you’ll see why he was scared for his life.”

Attorney Ben Crump said during a news conference that the footage of Tyre Nichols’ Jan. 7 arrest “is appalling. It is deplorable. It is heinous.”

Crump further expanded on the situation in a statement released with fellow attorney, Antonio Romanucci.

“We join Tyre’s family in supporting the Department’s decision to terminate the five officers who brutalized him, ultimately causing his death,” they wrote. “This is the first step towards achieving justice for Tyre and his family. They must also be held accountable for robbing this man of his life and his son of a father.”

Check out the Memphis Police Department’s statement below.

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