Former Tenn. officer accused in Tyre Nichols’ death to change plea ahead of trial

Associated Press

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A former Tennessee police officer charged in last year’s fatal beating of Memphis motorist Tyre Nichols intends to change his not guilty plea in federal court on Friday, according to court filings.

Trending

Legal

Ex-Calif. deputy may have felony conviction scrubbed due to work as inmate firefighter

A former Contra Costa deputy convicted in a 2018 on-duty fatal shooting may have his record cleared after serving time as part of the San Quentin Fire Department

July 06, 2025 06:00 AM

NYPD

NYPD: NYC shooting incidents hit record low in 2025

From January through June, the city recorded 397 shooting victims, which is down 24% from the same period last year, and 337 shooting incidents, a 23% decline over last year

July 06, 2025 07:00 AM

Off Duty

Ga. police officer beats ‘The Freeze’ in foot race during MLB game

“I tell ya, The Freeze didn’t have a chance today,” Braves play-by-play announcer Brandon Gaudin said after Cobb County Police Department Officer Ameerah Hardy-Dozier won

July 06, 2025 08:00 AM

Disaster Response

Death toll in Central Texas flash floods nears 70 as sheriff says 11 campers remain missing

The death toll from the flooding rose to at least 67 as rescuers maneuvering through challenging terrain found more bodies and continued their desperate search

July 06, 2025 01:33 PM

Emmitt Martin is one of five former officers charged in Nichols’ death after he was pulled from his car and beaten, then left without medical help for more than 20 minutes.

The five were indicted in September on federal charges that they deprived the 29-year-old FedEx worker and father of his rights through excessive force and failure to intervene, and obstructed justice through witness tampering.

Desmond Mills Jr., pleaded guilty to the federal charges on Nov. 2 and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors who recommended a 15-year prison sentence. Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley and Justin Smith have pleaded not guilty to the charges.

All five also were charged in state court with second-degree murder. The state trial has been postponed until the federal proceedings are complete.

Martin was the second officer to have contact with Nichols and he assisted Haley in forcing Nichols from his vehicle after a traffic stop on Jan. 7, 2023, according to documents filed in the case to permanently ban Martin from working as a law enforcement officer in the state.

Nichols ran from Martin and his two partners after they threated and pepper-sprayed him, but he was re-apprehended within minutes about a block away from the home he shared with his mother and step-father. At the second location, Martin kicked Nichols while he was on the ground and punched him in the face while two other officers held Nichols’ arms, according to the documents.

Nichols died in a hospital three days later. An autopsy determined he died from blows to the head and listed his death as a homicide.

Memphis’ police chief has said the department couldn’t substantiate any reason for the initial traffic stop. The five officers were fired for violations of Memphis Police Department policies.

Martin is scheduled to appear before U.S. District Judge Mark Norris on Friday to change his plea as part of an agreement with prosecutors, according to a court document filed Thursday.

Jury selection in his trial was scheduled for Sept. 9.