The family of Tyre Nichols, who died after a brutal beating by five Memphis police officers, announced Wednesday – a federal lawsuit against the officers and the city of Memphis , blaming them for his death and accusing officials of allowing a special unit’s aggressive tactics to go unchecked despite warning signs. The federal suit filed by lawyers for Nichols’ mother, RowVaughn Wells, seeks a jury trial and financial damages.
The lawsuit claims the SCORPION unit launched by Memphis Police Director Cerelyn “CJ” Davis used “extreme intimidation, humiliation, and violence” and “disproportionately focused on and targeted young Black men.”