Tyre Nichols’ attorney: The last words of an American man who died after ‘beating’ the police were ‘Mom, mom, mom’ | US news

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A lawyer said the last words of an American motorist who died after being beaten by five police officers were “Mom, mom, mom”.

Tire Nichols, 29, died in hospital three days after the confrontation after a traffic stop in Memphis, Tennessee, on January 7.

Bodycam footage of the altercation is expected to be released later this evening.

His family said the “absolutely horrific” video showed the officers brutally beating a FedEx worker for three minutes in an assault their lawyer likened to the LAPD attack on motorist Rodney King in 1991.

Photo: Nichols Pictures

Five sacked officers, all black, have been charged with second-degree murder and other crimes, including assault, kidnapping, official misconduct and official oppression, over the death of Mr. Nichols.

Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who is representing his family, said that when the public view the footage they will see him calling out to his mother.

He said: “When you all watch this video, you will see pictures of Nichols calling his mom.

“He called out three times for his mother. His last words on this earth are ‘Mom, mom, mom’. He’s screaming for her. When you think about this kidnapping charge, he says ‘I just want to go home.'”

“It is a transit station for God’s sake. A simple transit station.”

Photo: RowVaughn Wells, Tire Nichols’ mother. Pic: AP

Mr Nichols’ mother, RowVaughn Wells, told reporters: “For a mother to know her child was calling in their need and I wasn’t there for him. Do you know what I feel right now? Because I wasn’t there for a son.”

Mrs. Wells recalled that she had “a great pain in my stomach” and as soon as she found out what had happened she realized “that was the pain my son was feeling”.

“For me to find out that my son was calling my name, you have no idea what I’m feeling right now,” she added, struggling to hold back her tears.

Photo: Clockwise from top left: Demetrius Haley, Desmond Mills Jr., Emmett Martin III, Taddarius Bean, and Justin Smith.

She also said she had not yet seen the video, but urged anyone with children not to let them watch it.

“I’ve never seen the video, but what I heard is absolutely terrifying.”

It added that the accused officers had “disgraced their families”.

“I want to say to the five police officers who killed my son, you disgraced your families when you did this.

“But I will pray for you and your families. Because this should not have happened. We want justice for my son.”

I demanded peaceful protests.

Police pulled Mr. Nichols over for alleged reckless driving before an “altercation” occurred in which officers used pepper spray on him, according to Shelby County Attorney Steve Mulroy.

He added that Mr Nicholls then attempted to flee on foot and another altercation ensued.

His family says the officers beat him and that the injuries he sustained during the confrontation led to his death.

Police relatives accuse him of having a heart attack and kidney failure. The authorities said only that he had a medical emergency.

The officers are assigned to the “Scorpio” unit, which focuses on violent street crime. Family lawyers want it resolved.

Memphis Police Chief Cerelynn Davis said the department will review Scorpions and other specialized units.

President Joe Biden said the Nichols family and the city of Memphis deserve a “swift, full, and transparent investigation.”

He added, “Public trust is the foundation of public safety, and there are still plenty of places in America today where bonds of trust are shaken or broken.”

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