- WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT
- Police in Memphis have released footage of fatal beating of Tyre Nichols
- Memphis police chief says the footage is the worst she has ever witnessed
- Five cops have since been fired and charged with second-degree murder
- Cops across the country are bracing for a violent reaction to the footage
By KEITH GRIFFITH and EMMA JAMES FOR DAILYMAIL.COM
The Memphis Police Department has released harrowing bodycam footage of five police officers fatally beating Tyre Nichols following a traffic stop for purported reckless driving.
The video released on Friday night shows Nichols, 29, crying out for his mother multiple times during the brutal January 7 assault, which took place just a few blocks from his home.
‘Mom! Mom!’ screams Nichols as he is pinned to the ground by multiple officers, pepper sprayed in the face, kicked and punched in the head, and struck with a metal baton.
All five officers involved in the killing were charged with second-degree murder, with the district attorney saying that though they all played different roles, ‘they are all responsible.’
Still, police across the nation are bracing for potential violent unrest in response to the graphic and highly disturbing footage.
WARNING: GRAPHIC LANGUAGE AND DISTURBING CONTENT Horrific footage of Memphis PD punching Tyre NicholsProgress: 0%0:00PreviousPlaySkipMuteCurrent Time0:00/Duration Time2:09FullscreenNeed Text
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The Memphis Police Department has released harrowing bodycam footage of five police officers fatally beating Tyre Nichols
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‘Mom! Mom!’ screams Nichols as he is pinned to the ground by multiple officers following a foot chase, pepper sprayed in the face, and kicked and punched
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Another view from a nearby surveillance camera appears to show Nichols sitting unresponsive after the assault. Even after paramedics arrived they did not appear to render aid
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Paramedics arrive on the scene as Nichols, handcuffed, appears unable to sit up on his own
The violent incident followed a brief foot foot chase after cops attempted to pull over Nichols in his car.
After being tasered by one of the cops, Nichols is tackled and held down by two officers, who repeatedly shout ‘give me your hands!’
Moments later, a third cop arrives on foot and sprays pepper spray at Nichols, also hitting himself in the face.
The same officer then extends a telescoping metal baton, shouting, ‘I’m gonna baton the f*** out of him!’ before striking Nichols.TRENDINGBREAKING NEWS: TJ Holmes and Amy Robach are FIRED by ABC29.9k viewing nowBaby is third child to die from alleged attack by mom Lindsay Clancy141.9k viewing nowActress Sylvia Syms dies at the age of 89, her family reveal 67.4k viewing now
Two other cops also arrive at some point during the incident. Several of the officers are seen standing Nichols up as one swings punches at his face.
After Nichols is handcuffed, he appears to be unresponsive. Cops are heard cursing, wisecracking and ordering him to sit up as he slumps over onto the pavement.
Even after paramedics arrive on the scene, they do not appear to render immediate aid.
Nichols is seen lying on the pavement for more than 10 minutes as at least eight cops mill around the scene, flushing pepper spray out of their own eyes.
Nearly 30 minutes after the assault, an ambulance finally pulls up and a stretcher is unloaded to transport Nichols.
The videos released on Friday consists of more than an hour of footage, including video from three body-worn cameras and one surveillance camera mounted on a utility pole. 
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The violent incident followed a brief foot foot chase after cops attempted to pull over Nichols in his car
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After being tasered by one of the cops, Nichols is tackled and held down by two officers, who repeatedly shout ‘give me your hands!’
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Moments later, third cop arrives on foot and sprays pepper spray at Nichols, also hitting himself in the face with the chemical irritant
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The shadow of the officer wearing this bodycam is seen as he raises his arm holding a metal telescopic baton, after saying ‘I’m gonna baton the f*** out of him!’
Nichols died in hospital on January 10, three days after being beaten by the officers, with those who have seen the footage comparing it to the video of Rodney King.
A bystander filmed LAPD officers beating King with batons in 1991, and their acquittal the following year sparked six days of rioting in Los Angeles as racial tensions boiled over.
In King’s case, the officers involved were white, while the five officers charged with murdering Nichols, a black man, are also black.
Nevertheless, authorities across the country were bracing for potential violence in response to the gruesome body-camera footage – with increased security surrounding Capitol Hill and police from Los Angeles to New York saying they are monitoring the situation.
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp activated the National Guard after declaring a state of emergency in Atlanta, calling in 1,000 guardsmen to maintain the peace.
Earlier Friday, Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn Davis said the footage is the worst she has witnessed in her career.
‘We are going to see acts that defy humanity, a disregard for life, duty of care and a level of physical interaction that is above and beyond what is required in law enforcement,’ she said Friday morning.
