The revelation that one of the Memphis police officers charged with murdering Tyre Nichols took photos of the bloodied victim and shared at least one of them via text message with a “female acquaintance” has revived a social media rumor that the police violence was personal and motivated by more than just the pursuit of an allegedly reckless driver.
Fired Memphis Police Officer Demetrius Haley took the photos while Nichols was handcuffed and propped up against a vehicle before sharing one of the images with at least five people, according to a police statement.
“On [Haley’s] personal cell phone, [Haley] took two photographs while standing in front of the obviously injured subject after he was handcuffed,” the statement said in part. “[Haley] admitted [he] shared the photo in a text message with five people; one civilian employee, two MPD officers, and one female acquaintance.”
It was that “one female acquaintance” part that didn’t sit right with critics on social media who suggested that the whole story wasn’t being told. In particular, several revived one conspiracy theory that claimed without proof that Nichols was the victim of a revenge beating.
Sherrilyn Ifill, the former President and Director-Counsel of LDF, tweeted that the new report “raised alarm bells” surrounding the “rumors” she said she has “tried to ignore.” Ifill said, “We need the entire story ASAP.”
“This streets been saying this was a revenge murder 2 weeks ago!” one Twitter user pointed to a previous tweet from Jan. 29 that placed a spotlight on unfounded allegations that “Tyre had a relationship with one of the officers [sic] girlfriend.”
To be sure, Nichols’ stepfather has already acknowledged the rumors and dismissed them as not credible.
“My son was not messing around with one of the officer’s wives,” Rodney Wells said last week during a vigil in Memphis. “That’s just a rumor.”
The Rev. Al…
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