In Memphis, Tennessee, a video presented at the trial of three former police officers revealed that two emergency medical technicians failed to provide medical aid to a severely injured Tyre Nichols. The EMTs, Robert Long and JaMichael Sandridge, were seen standing and walking near Nichols as he sat and eventually rolled onto his side on the ground. They did not intervene for several minutes, prompting questions about their actions during the incident.

The former officers on trial, Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, and Justin Smith, are accused of showing “deliberate indifference” towards Nichols’ medical needs and failing to provide him with necessary care after the altercation. The video footage displayed the officers conversing as Nichols struggled with his injuries, while Nichols can be heard calling out for his mother.

Nichols, who was Black, was pepper-sprayed and stunned during a traffic stop before being beaten by the officers near his home. Despite pleading for help, Nichols did not receive medical attention until paramedic Jesse Guy and his partner arrived at the scene. Nichols passed away three days after the incident on January 10, 2023.

The Memphis Police Department terminated the employment of the three officers involved in the incident, along with two other officers, Emmitt Martin III and Desmond Mills Jr., who were also indicted on federal charges. Martin and Mills have entered into plea deals in relation to the case.

An analysis by The Associated Press compared the officers’ accounts of the incident to video evidence obtained from body cameras. The footage raised concerns about the handling of Nichols’ case, highlighting discrepancies between the officers’ reports and the events captured on camera.

Paramedic Jesse Guy testified that upon his arrival at the scene, Nichols was unresponsive with no pulse or breathing. Despite efforts to resuscitate him in the ambulance, Nichols succumbed to his injuries, as confirmed by an autopsy report attributing his death to head trauma.

The five officers, including the three on trial, are facing second-degree murder charges in state court, to which Mills and Martin are expected to modify their pleas. A trial date has yet to be scheduled for the state court proceedings.