Summary

  • Footage of the violent arrest that led to the death of Tyre Nichols has been made public

  • It appears to show Memphis police officers shouting profanities and taking turns to kick and punch the 29-year-old after a traffic stop

  • His mother says no-one should go through what she is going through - and says the five former police officers charged over his death "disgraced their families"

  • Protesters in Memphis have been calling for an end to police violence and holding signs reading 'Justice for Tyre'

  • "It was the police culture in the US that killed Tyre Nichols," lawyer Ben Crump said earlier during a news conference

  • President Biden has called Mr Nichols' parents, expressing his condolences and mentioning the loss of his own son Beau

  • Five police officers - who have all now been fired - are facing murder charges. Lawyers for two of the accused say they will fight the charges

Live Reporting

  1. Calls for calm amid outrage

    On Thursday, President Biden released a statement appealing for calm as authorities prepare to release the footage this evening.

    "I join Tyre's family in calling for peaceful protest," he said. "Outrage is understandable, but violence is never acceptable."

    Memphis city police chief Cerelyn Davis, the first black woman in that role in Memphis, also called for calm amid what she said was a "failing of basic humanity toward another individual".

  2. WATCH: Tennessee official 'sickened' by footage of Tyre Nichols arrest

    Tennessee official 'sickened' by bodycam footage

    David Rausch, director of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said he has seen the "appalling" bodycam footage and says he is "shocked" and "sickened" by what he saw.

    "What happened here does not at all reflect proper policing," he added.

  3. The officers and the charges

    From left: Demetrius Haley, Desmond Mills, Jr, Emmitt Martin III, Justin Smith and Tadarrius BeanMPD

    From left: Demetrius Haley, Desmond Mills, Jr, Emmitt Martin III, Justin Smith and Tadarrius Bean

    The five former Memphis police officers accused of second degree murder in the death of Tyre Nichols each face the same set of charges.

    Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Desmond Mills Jr, Emmitt Martin III and Justin Smith were booked into jail on Thursday.

    They all joined the Memphis Police Department in the last six years, and were fired last week.

    Here's a quick look at what the charges are, and what they mean:

    • Second degree murder - defined in Tennessee law as a "knowing killing of another", which need not premeditated
    • Aggravated assault - meaning an assault committed knowingly, which causes serious injury
    • Aggravated kidnapping - false imprisonment of a person. It is "aggravated" if the victim suffers an injury or happens if the assailant has a deadly weapon. Each officer faces two counts of this
    • Official misconduct - covers a range of wrongful acts by those acting as public servants. Again, each officer faces two counts
    • Official oppression - an offence which happens when a public servant intentionally subjects a victim to mistreatment, such as arrest or detention

    Lawyers representing two of them say they will fight the charges.

  4. Who was Tyre Nichols?

    Tyre Nichols and womanDeandre Nichols/Reuters

    Let's bring you some more background on the victim in all of this - Tyre Nichols.

    His mother said her 29-year-old son had a passion for photography and sunsets. He would often go to nearby Shelby Farms Park on the eastern outskirts of Memphis.

    Before his death, Tyre worked at delivery firm FedEx with his stepfather Rodney Wells.

    After the press conference, a short video was played of Tyre skateboarding.

    "You've got to put that skateboard down, you've got a full-time job now," his stepfather remembered saying.

    "He looked at me like 'Yeah right', because that was his passion." Wells recalled.

  5. What we know so far

    Tyre NicholsReuters

    Here's a recap of the key developments:

    Five police officers - Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Desmond Mills Jr, Emmitt Martin III and Justin Smith - have been formally charged

    The officers now face a range of charges,including second-degree murder, aggravated kidnapping and "official oppression"

    The director of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, who has seen the video, says he is disgusted by what he saw.

    Video of the incident is expected to be released after 18:00 local time on Friday (00:00 GMT on Saturday).

    President Joe Biden has offered his condolences to the family of Tyre Nichols and called for a "swift, full, and transparent investigation in to his death"

    He also called for "peaceful" protests as authorities, who've reportedly been briefed on the situation in Memphis, are understood to be preparing for potential unrest over the coming days.

  6. Welcome

    Hello and thanks for joining us as officials prepare to reveal video footage of the arrest that led to the death of Tyre Nichols.

    The 29-year-old was stopped in Memphis, Tennessee, on 7 January for reckless driving. He died three days later. Five former police officers, all of whom were fired last week, have been charged with second-degree murder.

    Lawyers for two of the ex-officers say they will fight the charges.

    US President Joe Biden has urged protests in Tennessee to remain peaceful ahead of the bodycam video release.

    Lawyers for the Nichols family have said it will show him being severely beaten.

    Stay tuned for live updates and reaction.