Latest news with #RowVaughnWells
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Yahoo
‘Dead or unalive': Posters of former officers hung after ‘not guilty' verdict
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WREG) — 'Wanted' posters featuring images of the three former police officers involved in the Tyre Nichols case appeared around Memphis after the men received 'not guilty' verdicts. Posters in Memphis' Cooper Young area say the three former officers are wanted 'dead or unalive' for Nichols' deadly police beating. 'We have gotten so much injustice from this city that it's ridiculous,' said RowVaughn Wells, Tyre Nichols' mother. 'My son was murdered by five Memphis Police officers. He was murdered, and three of them got off.' More Igloo coolers recalled after 26 fingertip amputations 'I don't condone those posters. I don't condone the posting of those posters, but I do understand, is a deep hurt and agony and pain for people in this city right now,' said Representative Justin J. Pearson. Representative Justin Pearson says he encourages the community to express their emotions, but he advises them to do it in a non-violent way. 'And for someone to see those videos of Tyre Nichols being beaten to death by these officers and to come back with not guilty, like that does something,' said Pearson. Former MPD officer reacts to Tyre Nichols verdict: 'I was taken aback' The verdict and Nichols' deadly police beating have also resulted in distrust of the Memphis Police Department. However, Memphis Mayor Paul Young and Police Chief C.J. Davis say they're focused on restoring the community's perception of the city's law enforcement. 'We recognize the pain and grief this incident has caused, and the men and women of the Memphis Police Department remain committed to rebuilding trust and working together to build a stronger, safer Memphis for all,' said Davis. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Local leaders react to Tyre Nichols verdict
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — All three former Memphis Police officers charged in a state criminal trial after the death of Tyre Nichols were found 'not guilty' on all charges Wednesday by an all-white jury brought in from the Chattanooga area. Memphis leaders are now reacting. Some are calling the verdict 'heartbreaking.' NOT GUILTY: Jury returns verdict in Tyre Nichols trial Tennessee Rep. Antonio Parkinson (D-Memphis): 'Although we all watched the horrific death of #tyrenichols unfold before our eyes, a jury found the former officers involved not guilty. All I can think about is the family of Tyre Nichols and how incredibly heartbreaking this must be for them. A truly unfathomable pain.' Tennessee Rep. Torrey Harris (D-Memphis) 'Today's verdict in the Tyre Nichols case left me shocked and surprised, as 'liberty and justice for all' proved to be empty words on a paper. The most important thing to remember, first and foremost, is that all of the officers have already been found guilty on numerous charges in federal court and are awaiting sentencing on those charges. Today's verdict does not change the fact all are facing considerable time in prison. For those who watched the video and were sickened by the savage beating of Mr. Nichols, we all must remember that our faith—or lack thereof—in the system has been justified. Justice is still being served federally, and today's verdict does nothing to change that. To Ms. RowVaughn Wells and to every family member and friend, you know we will keep fighting.' Sen. Raumesh Akbari (D-Memphis): 'I am heartbroken—and I am angry. What happened to Tyre Nichols was not just a tragedy; it was a brutal injustice. The world watched as his life was stolen in a horrific, senseless beating. And now, his mother, Mrs. RowVaughn Wells, and his loved ones are left to carry a pain no family should ever endure. We should not have to keep witnessing this. We should not have to keep burying our sons, our brothers, our friends. We are tired of demanding justice that comes too late, if at all. Tired of asking if our lives truly matter in a system that continues to treat them as disposable. Days like these are unbearably cruel. They leave us searching for answers—about the worth of a life, the unbearable weight of losing one, and whether justice truly exists for us all. Tyre deserved better. And we will fight for his name, for his memory, and for the justice that still feels too far away.' Tyre Nichols: The video evidence the jury saw Sen. London Lamar (D-Memphis): 'I am shocked. I am gutted. This verdict is a devastating blow to a community still grieving the brutal killing of Tyre Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man who died after being violently beaten by members of the Memphis SCORPION police unit. We all saw the video. We saw Tyre cry out for his mother. We saw officers act without humanity or restraint. This case was supposed to show that police can be held accountable. Instead, this jury's decision leaves too many of us wondering if justice is ever possible. My heart is with Tyre's family and everyone in our community carrying the weight of this painful outcome. More than ever, Memphis—and communities across our state—need police officers who protect and serve, not intimidate and harm. As difficult as today's news is, I take some comfort in knowing that all five officers involved still face sentencing in federal court. That process must reflect the seriousness of their actions and the value of Tyre's life. We have so much work to do to rebuild trust, reimagine public safety, and ensure that accountability in policing is not the exception, but the expectation.' Tyre's life was stolen, and his family was denied the justice they so deeply deserve. We are outraged, and we know we are not alone. We thank the Memphis community and people across the nation who have stood by Tyre's family, lifted their voices, and demanded accountability. Your solidarity has been a beacon of hope in this painful journey. We remain fiercely committed to civil justice and ask for your continued support as we press forward with the civil trial and push for meaningful, lasting reforms needed to stop the cycle of police brutality. Let this be a rallying cry: we must confront the broken systems that empowered this injustice and demand the change our nation — and Tyre's legacy — deserves.' Shelby County District Attorney's Office: 'The verdicts mark a pivotal moment in a case that has deeply impacted our city, state, and nation. From the beginning, we believed the evidence supported the charges and pursued this case in the interest of justice and accountability. Tyre Nichols should be alive today. His death was a preventable tragedy that devastated his family and deeply affected our entire community. We respect the jury's decision and appreciate their service. While this is not the outcome we hoped for, our commitment to justice and to the people of Shelby County remains unwavering. I hope we can learn from this tragedy as Memphis continues to work to improve its policing practices. We remain committed to transparency, justice, and the work of building public trust. Our office will continue to pursue accountability wherever the facts and the law lead us.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to
The Independent
07-05-2025
- The Independent
Tyre Nichols remembered as beautiful soul with creative eye
On most weekends, Tyre Nichols would head to the city park, train his camera on the sky and wait for the sun to set. ' Photography helps me look at the world in a more creative way. It expresses me in ways I cannot write down for people,' he wrote on his website. He preferred landscapes and loved the glow of sunsets most, his family has said. 'My vision is to bring my viewers deep into what I am seeing through my eye and out through my lens,' Nichols wrote. ' People have a story to tell, why not capture it.' Nichols, a 29-year-old father, was on his way home from taking pictures of the sky on Jan. 7, 2023, when police pulled him over. He was just a few minutes from the home he shared with his mother and stepfather, when he was brutally attacked by five Memphis police officers. He died three days later at a hospital, and the officers were charged with second-degree murder and other offenses and fired. Two of the officers previously pleaded guilty in both state and federal court. The three others were acquitted Wednesday of all state charges, including second-degree murder. The trio still face the prospect of years in prison after they were convicted of federal charges, though they were acquitted of the most serious charges there, too. 'Nobody's perfect, nobody. But he was damn near,' his mother, RowVaughn Wells, said at a news conference in 2023, moments after she watched the video of her son being beaten. 'He was damn near perfect.' He was the baby of their family. He had a 4-year-old son and worked hard to better himself as a father, his family said. He was an avid skateboarder from Sacramento, California, and came to Memphis just before the coronavirus pandemic and got stuck. But he was fine with it because he was with his mother, and they were incredibly close, Wells said. He had her name tattooed on his arm. Friends at a memorial service in 2023 described him as joyful and lovable. 'This man walked into a room, and everyone loved him,' said Angelina Paxton, a friend who traveled to Memphis from California for the service. Growing up in Sacramento, Nichols spent much of his time at a skate park on the outskirts of the city. It could be a rough place sometimes for younger kids. But when Niko Chapman was 10 years old, his parents would let him walk to the park alone as long as they knew Nichols was there. 'You remember people that are really kind to you, and Tyre was just a really kind person,' Chapman said. 'He just always made me feel really welcome.' Chapman's dad, Curtis Chapman, ran a youth group at a local church that would often meet at the skate park for pizza. Nichols quickly became a regular, bringing his energetic spirit and quick wit. But away from the group, Nichols would often show up at the Chapman house to talk about life — including coming to grips with being a young parent. 'What drew me to Tyre was just — he's real,' Curtis Chapman said. 'He would talk about being a dad and wanting to be a good dad and seeking advice.' There was a Bible study on Thursdays that Nichols would attend with his friend Brian Jang. One day, the group watched a sermon about how the world is filled with distractions. Jang said Nichols was so moved by it that he pulled out his flip phone and dropped it in a cup of water. 'I thought it was awesome, just seeing his growth and his commitment,' Jang said. The last time Jang saw Nichols was in 2018 at the food court in a local mall. The two hadn't seen each other in awhile, but Jang said Nichols came up behind him and gave him a big hug as the two caught up. 'It's honestly pretty devastating to see such a good human go through such unnecessary brutality, such unnecessary death,' Jang said. His mother said she raised him to love everyone openly — until they give you a reason not to. So Nichols was quick to make friends. In Memphis, Nichols went to Starbucks every morning, and Nate Spates Jr. would hang out with him there. They chatted about sports or life. Spates was with his wife once when they ran into Nichols there, and they all talked for a couple of hours. Afterwards, Spates said his wife commented, 'He's got such a good spirit and soul and calm presence.' Nichols worked second shift at FedEx with his stepfather. Every day, they'd come home together on their break at 7 p.m., and his mother would have a meal waiting for them. Wells said she'd offered to buy her son Jordans, the popular athletic shoes, but he didn't want them. 'He was just his own person,' she said. 'He didn't follow what anyone else was doing.' When he wasn't working, he went to the park to skateboard and take pictures. His website, called This California Kid, starts with an invitation: 'Welcome to the world through my eyes.' He included a gallery of what he considered his masterpieces: bridges and railroad tracks rendered in black and white, the neon lights of Beale Street at night. He took pictures of pink flowers, sunsets over the Mississippi River, fields of grass, statues of Elvis. He highlights a quote from another photographer: 'A good photographer must love life,' it begins. After she watched the video of her son's death, she stood with her family and their lawyers at a lectern, shaking, to convey what the world lost. A lawyer described the beating shown in the video — 'he was a human piñata' — and Wells turned her head away, burying her face into her hands. In the video footage, which was released to the public, Nichols is heard saying he just wants to go home, family lawyers said. He was less than 100 yards from his mother's house. Lawyers described the last words Nichols is heard saying — calling for his mom, three times. 'Oh my God,' she wailed as they spoke. 'Oh my God.' She still finds herself waiting for him to walk in the door every day at 7 p.m. 'It's not even real to me right now. I don't have any feelings right now,' she said. 'I know my son Tyre is not here with me anymore. He will never walk through that door again.' ___ AP reporter Adrian Sainz contributed from Memphis, and AP researcher Rhonda Shafner from New York. Loller reported from Nashville, Beam from Sacramento, California, and Galofaro from Louisville, Kentucky.
Associated Press
07-05-2025
- Associated Press
Tyre Nichols remembered as beautiful soul with creative eye
On most weekends, Tyre Nichols would head to the city park, train his camera on the sky and wait for the sun to set. 'Photography helps me look at the world in a more creative way. It expresses me in ways I cannot write down for people,' he wrote on his website. He preferred landscapes and loved the glow of sunsets most, his family has said. 'My vision is to bring my viewers deep into what I am seeing through my eye and out through my lens,' Nichols wrote. 'People have a story to tell, why not capture it.' Nichols, a 29-year-old father, was on his way home from taking pictures of the sky on Jan. 7, 2023, when police pulled him over. He was just a few minutes from the home he shared with his mother and stepfather, when he was brutally attacked by five Memphis police officers. He died three days later at a hospital, and the officers were charged with second-degree murder and other offenses and fired. Two of the officers previously pleaded guilty in both state and federal court. The three others were acquitted Wednesday of all state charges, including second-degree murder. The trio still face the prospect of years in prison after they were convicted of federal charges , though they were acquitted of the most serious charges there, too. 'Nobody's perfect, nobody. But he was damn near,' his mother, RowVaughn Wells, said at a news conference in 2023, moments after she watched the video of her son being beaten. 'He was damn near perfect.' He was the baby of their family. He had a 4-year-old son and worked hard to better himself as a father, his family said. He was an avid skateboarder from Sacramento, California, and came to Memphis just before the coronavirus pandemic and got stuck. But he was fine with it because he was with his mother, and they were incredibly close, Wells said. He had her name tattooed on his arm. Friends at a memorial service in 2023 described him as joyful and lovable. 'This man walked into a room, and everyone loved him,' said Angelina Paxton, a friend who traveled to Memphis from California for the service. Growing up in Sacramento, Nichols spent much of his time at a skate park on the outskirts of the city. It could be a rough place sometimes for younger kids. But when Niko Chapman was 10 years old, his parents would let him walk to the park alone as long as they knew Nichols was there. 'You remember people that are really kind to you, and Tyre was just a really kind person,' Chapman said. 'He just always made me feel really welcome.' Chapman's dad, Curtis Chapman, ran a youth group at a local church that would often meet at the skate park for pizza. Nichols quickly became a regular, bringing his energetic spirit and quick wit. But away from the group, Nichols would often show up at the Chapman house to talk about life — including coming to grips with being a young parent. 'What drew me to Tyre was just — he's real,' Curtis Chapman said. 'He would talk about being a dad and wanting to be a good dad and seeking advice.' There was a Bible study on Thursdays that Nichols would attend with his friend Brian Jang. One day, the group watched a sermon about how the world is filled with distractions. Jang said Nichols was so moved by it that he pulled out his flip phone and dropped it in a cup of water. 'I thought it was awesome, just seeing his growth and his commitment,' Jang said. The last time Jang saw Nichols was in 2018 at the food court in a local mall. The two hadn't seen each other in awhile, but Jang said Nichols came up behind him and gave him a big hug as the two caught up. 'It's honestly pretty devastating to see such a good human go through such unnecessary brutality, such unnecessary death,' Jang said. His mother said she raised him to love everyone openly — until they give you a reason not to. So Nichols was quick to make friends. In Memphis, Nichols went to Starbucks every morning, and Nate Spates Jr. would hang out with him there. They chatted about sports or life. Spates was with his wife once when they ran into Nichols there, and they all talked for a couple of hours. Afterwards, Spates said his wife commented, 'He's got such a good spirit and soul and calm presence.' Nichols worked second shift at FedEx with his stepfather. Every day, they'd come home together on their break at 7 p.m., and his mother would have a meal waiting for them. Wells said she'd offered to buy her son Jordans, the popular athletic shoes, but he didn't want them. 'He was just his own person,' she said. 'He didn't follow what anyone else was doing.' When he wasn't working, he went to the park to skateboard and take pictures. His website, called This California Kid, starts with an invitation: 'Welcome to the world through my eyes.' He included a gallery of what he considered his masterpieces: bridges and railroad tracks rendered in black and white, the neon lights of Beale Street at night. He took pictures of pink flowers, sunsets over the Mississippi River, fields of grass, statues of Elvis. He highlights a quote from another photographer: 'A good photographer must love life,' it begins. After she watched the video of her son's death, she stood with her family and their lawyers at a lectern, shaking, to convey what the world lost. A lawyer described the beating shown in the video — 'he was a human piñata' — and Wells turned her head away, burying her face into her hands. In the video footage, which was released to the public, Nichols is heard saying he just wants to go home, family lawyers said. He was less than 100 yards from his mother's house. Lawyers described the last words Nichols is heard saying — calling for his mom, three times. 'Oh my God,' she wailed as they spoke. 'Oh my God.' She still finds herself waiting for him to walk in the door every day at 7 p.m. 'It's not even real to me right now. I don't have any feelings right now,' she said. 'I know my son Tyre is not here with me anymore. He will never walk through that door again.' ___ AP reporter Adrian Sainz contributed from Memphis, and AP researcher Rhonda Shafner from New York. Loller reported from Nashville, Beam from Sacramento, California, and Galofaro from Louisville, Kentucky.
