Former Tenn. officer accused in Tyre Nichols’ death to change plea ahead of trial

Associated Press

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A former Tennessee police officer charged in last year’s fatal beating of Memphis motorist Tyre Nichols intends to change his not guilty plea in federal court on Friday, according to court filings.

Trending

Investigations

‘Send law enforcement now': 2 Idaho firefighters killed, another wounded in intentional wildfire ambush

Nearly 300 officers and multiple agencies searched rugged terrain after a shooter targeted firefighters responding to a deliberately set fire on Canfield Mountain

June 30, 2025 11:13 AM

 · 

Sarah Roebuck

Officer Down

Milwaukee officer dies from injuries days after being ambushed

Officer Kendall Corder, 32, died after he and another officer were shot while responding to a weapons call

June 30, 2025 10:29 AM

 · 

Sarah Roebuck

Officer-Involved Shootings

Video: Calif. suspect rams, shoots at ex-girlfriend’s car with child inside before OIS

Surveillance and body-worn camera video capture the suspect smashing into the victim’s vehicle, firing a round and causing a collision with a responding Fresno PD cruiser

June 30, 2025 11:16 AM

Community Relations

Uniformed NYPD group again barred from Pride March over weapons policy

The NYPD commissioner condemned event organizers for seeking police protection while excluding LGBTQ officers from marching, noting that policy requires uniformed cops to carry their weapons

June 30, 2025 10:47 AM

Emmitt Martin is one of five former officers charged in Nichols’ death after he was pulled from his car and beaten, then left without medical help for more than 20 minutes.

The five were indicted in September on federal charges that they deprived the 29-year-old FedEx worker and father of his rights through excessive force and failure to intervene, and obstructed justice through witness tampering.

Desmond Mills Jr., pleaded guilty to the federal charges on Nov. 2 and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors who recommended a 15-year prison sentence. Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley and Justin Smith have pleaded not guilty to the charges.

All five also were charged in state court with second-degree murder. The state trial has been postponed until the federal proceedings are complete.

Martin was the second officer to have contact with Nichols and he assisted Haley in forcing Nichols from his vehicle after a traffic stop on Jan. 7, 2023, according to documents filed in the case to permanently ban Martin from working as a law enforcement officer in the state.

Nichols ran from Martin and his two partners after they threated and pepper-sprayed him, but he was re-apprehended within minutes about a block away from the home he shared with his mother and step-father. At the second location, Martin kicked Nichols while he was on the ground and punched him in the face while two other officers held Nichols’ arms, according to the documents.

Nichols died in a hospital three days later. An autopsy determined he died from blows to the head and listed his death as a homicide.

Memphis’ police chief has said the department couldn’t substantiate any reason for the initial traffic stop. The five officers were fired for violations of Memphis Police Department policies.

Martin is scheduled to appear before U.S. District Judge Mark Norris on Friday to change his plea as part of an agreement with prosecutors, according to a court document filed Thursday.

Jury selection in his trial was scheduled for Sept. 9.