The Traffic Stop Tragedy

This episode contains descriptions of violence and strong language.

Tyre Nichols was a 29-year-old Black man who lived in Memphis. His mother described him as living a simple and pleasant life. He worked for FedEx, loved to skateboard, was an amateur photographer and had a 4-year-old son.

On the evening of Jan. 7, after a traffic stop, Mr. Nichols was violently beaten by the police, sustaining severe injuries. He died on Jan. 10.

For weeks, what exactly had happened was unclear. This weekend, videos of the encounter were released.

Guest: Rick Rojas, the Southern bureau chief for The New York Times.

Background reading: 

• The five officers charged with the murder of Tyre Nichols are also Black, complicating the anguish and efforts to change the police.
• Recently released video footage included critical moments in which police officers kicked, punched and pepper-sprayed Mr. Nichols while he screamed.

For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday. 

Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.