Author: Adrian Sainz
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Lawyer makes claim that Nichols had stolen items in car before beating death
MEMPHIS, Tenn. • A lawyer for one of five former Memphis officers charged with fatally beating Tyre Nichols after a traffic stop made an unconfirmed claim in court documents that investigators found a hallucinogenic drug and stolen credit cards in Nichols’ car when he was pulled over. A lawyer for Nichols’ family didn’t immediately return…
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Sheriff says 9 deputies charged in death of man beaten in Memphis jail
MEMPHIS, Tenn. • Nine Memphis jail deputies have been indicted in the death of a Black man who was having a psychotic episode and died in custody last fall after jailers punched, kicked and kneeled on his back during a confrontation, a sheriff said Thursday. Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner, who oversees the jail where…
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Tyre Nichols’ family sues Memphis police over beating, death
MEMPHIS, Tenn. • The family of Tyre Nichols, who died after a brutal beating by five Memphis police officers, sued the officers and the city of Memphis on Wednesday, blaming them for his death and accusing officials of allowing a special unit’s aggressive tactics to go unchecked despite warning signs. The lawsuit accuses Memphis Police…
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Expelled Black lawmaker Pearson to return to Tennessee House
MEMPHIS, Tenn. • The second of two Black Democrats expelled from the Republican-led Tennessee House will return to the Legislature after a Memphis commission voted to reinstate him Wednesday, nearly a week after his banishment for supporting gun control protesters propelled him into the national spotlight. Hundreds of supporters marched Justin Pearson through Memphis to…
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Calls for police reform at Nichols’ funeral
MEMPHIS, Tenn. • Tyre Nichols’ family and friends remembered him with songs of faith and emotional tributes Wednesday, blending a celebration of his life with outraged calls for police reform after the brutal beating he endured at the hands of Memphis police. Nichols’ mother, RowVaughn Wells, fought back tears as she spoke lovingly of her…
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DA: 5 Memphis cops ‘all responsible’ for Tyre Nichols’ death
MEMPHIS, Tenn. • Five fired Memphis police officers were charged Thursday with second-degree murder and other crimes in the killing of Tyre Nichols, a Black motorist who died three days after a confrontation with the officers during a traffic stop. A grand jury handed up indictments against Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Desmond Mills, Jr., Emmitt…
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Memphis police urge calm after black man’s killing, unrest
MEMPHIS, Tenn. • Police appealed for calm in a tense Memphis neighborhood Thursday where about 35 officers were injured by a rock-throwing crowd following a black man’s shooting death by U.S. marshals on a fugitive task force. Elected officials condemned the violence, and the police chief pleaded for patience while the shooting is investigated. But…
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Martin Luther King Jr.’s words still inspire nearly 50 years after his death
ATLANTA — Though his voice was silenced nearly 50 years ago, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s message of nonviolence still resonates and inspires. Decades ago, the famed civil rights leader – also regarded as one of America’s greatest orators – recalled driving one night from Atlanta to Chattanooga, Tennessee, with his brother A.D. at…
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Ex-wife of former NBA player Lorenzen Wright charged with murder in 2010 death
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Authorities say the ex-wife of former NBA player Lorenzen Wright has been charged with first-degree murder in his death more than seven years ago. Memphis Police Director Michael Rallings said Saturday that Sherra Wright has been charged in the death of her ex-husband, a Memphis native who played for five teams over…
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Flooding, likely tornado damage as Harvey hits Deep South
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Harvey spread its misery into the Deep South as an apparent tornado damaged homes and toppled trees in a rural area of northwest Alabama, and people were evacuated from their homes as creeks flooded in Tennessee. More than 50 people were evacuated from a Nashville neighborhood due to flooding from Harvey, but…