Five Memphis officers are now facing federal indictments for civil rights violations, following the death of Tyre Nichols. US Attorney General Merrick Garland made the announcement Tuesday.
The five officers pulled Nichols over on Jan. 7 for alleged reckless driving. Body cam footage recorded the officers as they pulled him out of the car, beat him, and pepper sprayed him. Nichols died three days later from blunt force trauma to the head.
In February, the five officers were charged in the state of Tennessee for second-degree murder, aggravated assault, and official misconduct. All five men pleaded not guilty.
Civil Rights lawyer Ben Crump is representing the Nichols family, and he thanked the grand jury “for affirming what we already know in our hearts, that police officers brutally killed Tyre Nichols and it was unjustified, unnecessary, and unconstitutional.”
The charges could mean life in prison for the former officers. The defendants are expected to appear in court in the coming days.