FBI agent Anthony Householder testified on Thursday in the federal trial of Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, and Justin Smith, former Memphis police officers on trial for the fatal beating of Tyre Nichols. The officers are facing charges of excessive force, failure to intervene, and obstructing justice through witness tampering. Two other former officers, Emmitt Martin III and Desmond Mills Jr., have pleaded guilty to depriving Nichols of his civil rights.
Householder revealed that during his interviews with Bean and Smith as part of the FBI’s investigation into the January 2023 beating, both officers admitted to their involvement. Smith confessed to punching Nichols and acknowledged that he should have intervened to stop Martin from also punching him. Additionally, Smith did not inform emergency medical technicians about the punches delivered to Nichols because he believed Nichols would be capable of informing them himself. Nichols passed away in the hospital three days after the beating.
The incident occurred during a traffic stop where Nichols, a Black man, was pepper-sprayed and Tasered before trying to flee. Video evidence presented during the trial showed the officers, who are also Black, attacking Nichols close to his home as he pleaded for his mother. Smith took responsibility for his actions during the incident, admitting his failure, according to Householder’s testimony.
Bean also accepted accountability during his interview with Householder, where he confessed to withholding information about the beating out of fear of being labeled a “snitch.” Householder mentioned that Bean did not want to betray his team and avoided providing full details of the incident.
Mills, another former officer who was involved in the beating, testified earlier in the trial. Mills expressed regret and emotion, stating that upon seeing the video of the beating, he could no longer stay silent. He acknowledged the possibility that the beating could have ceased if one of the officers had called for it to stop.
The five officers, including Bean, Haley, and Smith, could face life imprisonment if found guilty in the federal trial. They are also facing second-degree murder charges in state court, where Mills and Martin are anticipated to change their pleas. The trial date for the state court proceedings is pending.
The testimony provided by Householder and Mills sheds light on the events leading up to Nichols’ tragic death and the extent of the officers’ involvement. The trial continues as more details come to light, revealing the depth of the misconduct that took place during the incident.
