Preston Hemphill was seen on body camera footage during the traffic stop.
Preston Hemphill, the white officer seen on body camera footage during Tyre Nichols’ traffic stop, will not be charged in Nichols’ death, according to Hemphill’s attorney.
Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy also announced Tuesday that he will not bring any criminal charges against Hemphill in connection with the case.
Nichols, 29, died three days after he was beaten by officers during a January traffic stop in Memphis.
Hemphill, who was not present at the beating, was fired from the Memphis Police Department in February for violating “multiple department policies” during the incident, the department said.
Memphis police officer Preston Hemphill.
Memphis Police Department
Mulroy said the decision to not press charges followed a “thorough investigation,” including reviewing hours of body worn camera footage and interviewing witnesses.
“By no means do we endorse the conduct of officer Hemphill at that first traffic stop,” Mulroy said. “But we do not believe that criminal charges are appropriate.”
Five now-former Memphis police officers have been charged with second-degree murder in connection with Nichols’ death. They all pleaded not guilty in their first court appearance on Feb. 17.
Mulroy said Hemphill has been cooperative throughout the investigation and expects that he will testify at trial in the case.
The district attorney said he spoke with Ben Crump, the attorney for the Nichols’ family, Monday night, and that the family supports the decision not to press charges against Hemphill.
“It is our deepest hope and expectation that justice will be served fully, and that all who had a role to play in this senseless tragedy will be held accountable,” Crump said in a statement read by Mulroy during a press briefing announcing his decision.
Mulroy said Tuesday that Nichols’ autopsy is almost complete and that his office expects it to confirm that Nichols “died as a result of the injuries sustained in the beating.”
