Tyre Nichols loved photography, skateboarding, sunsets and his 4-year-old son, according to his friends and family.
Nichols died Jan. 10, three days after a traffic stop encounter with five Memphis police officers; video shows they brutally beat him. Since then, people who knew Nichols have shared details about his life to help ensure his memory is more than one of police violence.
There is still a lot that is unknown about what led to Nichols’ fatal encounter with police. The five officers, who were fired, have been charged with second-degree murder, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated assault and more in connection with Nichols’ death. In days following the video’s Jan. 27, officials announced that two more police officers had been placed on leave and three fire department personnel were fired.
Neither investigators nor attorneys for officers have released any solid information about the officers’ motive in pulling Nichols over. Though an initial Jan. 8 police statement attributed the Jan. 7 traffic stop to “reckless driving,” the Memphis police chief told CNN Jan. 27 that a review of evidence, including surveillance cameras, did not substantiate that claim.
In the absence of clear information, the internet has shared its own unsubstantiated claims, including that Nichols was targeted because he was involved in a relationship with the wife, girlfriend or ex-partner of one of the officers.
“It’s unconfirmed, but rumors has it, Tyre Nichols was allegedly dating one of the officers wife,” read the caption of a Jan. 26 Facebook post that has since been deleted. It accompanied photos of Nichols and the five officers who have been charged in connection with Nichols’ death.
“So was this a routine traffic stop,” the post continued, “or a revenge ambush murder plot?”
(Screenshot from Facebook.)
Similar posts singled out one of the officers: “So allegedly apparently former Memphis cop Demetrius Haley, targeted Tyre Nichols’ and proceeded to beat him to death (because) he was fooling around with his girlfriend.”
Other posts and tweets suggested Nichols had been involved with one of the officers’ exes.
These posts were flagged as part of Facebook’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram.)
PolitiFact found no evidence that Nichols was involved with the wife or girlfriend — or ex-wife or ex-girlfriend — of any of the officers charged in his death. Nichols’ family said the claims are untrue.
What’s fueling the rumors?
Nichols worked at FedEx. Some iterations of the unsubstantiated rumor rely on the unproven claim that one of the officers’ wives or girlfriends also worked at FedEx and led to Nichols’ alleged involvement with her. Those social media rumors implicated former officer Haley’s wife, girlfriend or ex.
We reached out to FedEx. In a statement, the company said comments about the active investigation should be directed to authorities. “We remain shocked and heartbroken about the loss of our team member, Tyre Nichols, and our thoughts continue to be with his family, friends, and co-workers,” FedEx added.
Nichols’ family members have publicly denied such claims, including at a Jan. 31 vigil.
Rodney Wells, Nichols’ stepfather, said the rumors spreading about his son weren’t true.
“My son was not messing with one of the officers’ wives,” Wells told a crowd of supporters and journalists gathered at the vigil. “That’s just a rumor. Don’t anybody believe that.”
“My son was not messing with one of the officers’ wives.” – #TyreNichols father, Rodney Wells addresses rumors his son was involved with one of the officers’ exes at a vigil. #memphis5 pic.twitter.com/LXTNkIMR0i
— Rebecca Butcher 🦋 (@RebeccaB_TV) January 31, 2023
The family wants “Justice for Tyre,” Wells said, praising the outpouring of support from the community.
“This is an ongoing investigation,” the Shelby County District Attorney’s office said in a Jan. 30 statement. “The current charges do not preclude us from adding additional charges as more information is presented. We are looking at all individuals involved in the events leading up to, during, and after the beating of Tyre Nichols.”
When the charges against the officers were announced, Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy said under Tennessee law, “second-degree murder is a knowing killing,” news outlets reported.
PolitiFact reached out to the Shelby County District Attorney’s office and lawyers for the Nichols’ family for comment, but did not hear back. We also reached out to the officers’ lawyers and did not hear back.
Our ruling
A Facebook post claimed that the officers who beat Nichols before he died targeted him because he was “allegedly dating” one officer’s wife.
Investigators have not released a clear motive for the officers’ actions and the officers’ attorneys also have not commented. PolitiFact found no evidence to substantiate the claims that Nichols was involved with one of the officers’ wives, girlfriends or exes. Nichols’ stepfather said the claims were untrue.
We rate this unsubstantiated claim False.
PolitiFact researcher Caryn Baird contributed to this report.
RELATED: Here’s what you should know about the claim that Tyre Nichols was ‘reckless driving’
