MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — An attorney for the family of a Black man who died at a hospital three days after a confrontation with police during a traffic stop said Monday that video of the encounter shows it was “violent” and “troublesome on every level.”
Attorney Ben Crump said during a news conference that the footage of Tire Nichols’ Jan. 7 arrest “is appalling. It is deplorable. It is heinous.”
Crump, who viewed the video along with Nichols’ family and their other lawyers earlier Monday, said it reminded them of the infamous video of the Los Angeles police beating of Rodney King.
“Regrettably, it reminded us of Rodney king video. … And unlike Rodney King, Tire didn’t survive,” he said.
Another of the family’s attorneys, Antonio Romanucci, said the beating of Nichols lasted three minutes.
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“He was a human piñata for those police officers,” said Romanucci.
Crump said the authorities won’t release the video to the public for a week or two, but that it will be released.
Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy issued a statement investigators don’t want the release of the video to the public yet because they don’t want to risk compromising the investigation.
Nichols, a 29-year-old father, FedEx worker and avid skateboarder, died Jan. 10 at a hospital, authorities said.
Photos: Demonstrations after the police killing of Jayland Walker
Protesters gather during a march and rally for Jayland Walker, Wednesday, July 6, 2022, in New York. Walker, 25, was killed June 27 in a pursuit that had started with an attempted traffic stop in Akron, Ohio. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Frank Franklin II
An American flag is burned as protesters gather during a march and rally for Jayland Walker, Wednesday, July 6, 2022, in New York. Walker, 25, was killed June 27 in a pursuit that had started with an attempted traffic stop in Akron, Ohio. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Frank Franklin II
Protesters listen to a speaker during a march and rally for Jayland Walker, Wednesday, July 6, 2022, in New York. Walker, 25, was killed June 27 in a pursuit that had started with an attempted traffic stop in Akron, Ohio. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Frank Franklin II
Protesters gather during a march and rally for Jayland Walker, Wednesday, July 6, 2022, in New York. Walker, 25, was killed June 27 in a pursuit that had started with an attempted traffic stop in Akron, Ohio. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Frank Franklin II
A group arrives to pay their respects at a memorial service in the Akron Civic Center for Jayland Walker in Akron, Ohio, Wednesday, July 13, 2022. On June 27, 2022 Walker was unarmed when Akron police chased him on foot and killed him in a hail of bullets, but officers believed he had shot at them earlier from a vehicle and feared he was preparing to fire again, authorities said. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Gene J. Puskar
A group arrives to pay their respects at a memorial service in the Akron Civic Center for Jayland Walker in Akron, Ohio, Wednesday, July 13, 2022. On June 27, 2022 Walker was unarmed when Akron police chased him on foot and killed him in a hail of bullets, but officers believed he had shot at them earlier from a vehicle and feared he was preparing to fire again, authorities said. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Gene J. Puskar
People hug outside the Akron Civic Center after attending a viewing for Jayland Walker in Akron, Ohio, Wednesday, July 13, 2022. On June 27, 2022 Walker was unarmed when Akron police chased him on foot and killed him in a hail of bullets, but officers believed he had shot at them earlier from a vehicle and feared he was preparing to fire again, authorities said. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Gene J. Puskar
People waited to get into the Akron Civic Center for a public viewing for jayland Walker in Akron, Ohio, Wednesday, July 13, 2022. On June 27, 2022 Walker was unarmed when Akron police chased him on foot and killed him in a hail of bullets, but officers believed he had shot at them earlier from a vehicle and feared he was preparing to fire again, authorities said. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Gene J. Puskar
People gather to pay their respects at a memorial service in the Akron Civic Center for Jayland Walker in Akron, Ohio, Wednesday, July 13, 2022. On June 27, 2022 Walker was unarmed when Akron police chased him on foot and killed him in a hail of bullets, but officers believed he had shot at them earlier from a vehicle and feared he was preparing to fire again, authorities said. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Gene J. Puskar
People hug outside the Akron Civic Center after attending a viewing for Jayland Walker in Akron, Ohio, Wednesday, July 13, 2022. On June 27, 2022 Walker was unarmed when Akron police chased him on foot and killed him in a hail of bullets, but officers believed he had shot at them earlier from a vehicle and feared he was preparing to fire again, authorities said. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Gene J. Puskar
A woman, left, prays as she walks among people waiting to pay their respects at a memorial service at the Akron Civic Center for Jayland Walker in Akron, Ohio, Wednesday, July 13, 2022. On June 27, 2022 Walker was unarmed when Akron police chased him on foot and killed him in a hail of bullets, but officers believed he had shot them earlier from a vehicle and feared he was preparing to fire again, authorities said. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Gene J. Puskar