MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) – Posters encouraging “vigilante justice” in the Tyre Nichols case are appearing across Memphis.
Monday night, both city leaders and Nichols’ family are responding to the anonymous call to do harm to the former police officers involved in the 29-year-old motorist’s death.
They feature the faces of codefendants Demetrius Haley, Tadarrius Bean and Justin Smith with the words “Wanted Dead or Unalive for the crimes of beating Tyre Nichols to death and escaping justice.”
“Dead or Unalive” posters at Cooper Street and Central Avenue depicting the mugshots of former Memphis police officers Demetrius Haley, Tadarrius Bean, and Justin Smith, who were each found not guilty on all seven charges in their indictment stemming from the January 2023 traffic stop beating death of Memphis civilian Tyre Nichols(Action News 5)
The posters showed up last week after the three were found not guilty in the state trial and acquitted of all charges related to Nichols’ fatal beating during a January 2023 traffic stop.
Nichols’ family, along with their attorney Ben Crump, released a statement Monday saying that they do not know who is responsible for the posters and that they do not condone threats of violence against the former officers.
When asked if MPD has issued any special protections or patrols for the defendants who are not in federal custody, a spokesperson offered the following statement:
“I’m unaware of any ‘protection’ offered. They are not our employees.”
