Friends, advocates continue to fight for justice for Tire Nichols following federal conviction of Memphis police officers

SACRAMENTO – Three former offers from the Memphis Police Department were found found guilty in federal court on Thursdayeach convicted of at least one federal crime in 2023 fatal beating by Sacramento native Tire Nichols.

However, the men were acquitted of the most serious charges they faced over a spark-related death National protests and calls for comprehensive changes in policing.

Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley and Justin Smith were found guilty of witness tampering in connection with the cover-up of the beating after a traffic stop, but Bean and Smith were found not guilty of civil rights charges.

Haley was acquitted of violating Nichols' civil rights resulting in death, but was convicted of the lesser charge of violating his civil rights resulting in death.

Nichols' family and attorneys said Thursday's sentence was justified; One of his childhood friends, Ryan Wilson, tells CBS13 there's still disappointment in it.

“At the end of the day, he’s no longer with us,” Wilson said. “At least at the moment they are being accused of something. They're facing jail, jail, so I think that gives people a little more time to continue the fight. Because the fight is not over yet.”

Five officers A total of charges were filed in Nichols' death, but two pleaded guilty and testified against members of their now-disbanded Memphis police crime-fighting unit.

“He always had a way of making the best of things. No matter how life went, you could hardly tell. He always had a smile on his face. That's something I always try to carry with me today, that kind of attitude,” Wilson said.

Wilson has a wall in his home dedicated to the memory of his longtime friend and said he will never forget his sweet spirit and constant smile.

“He was one of the kindest, most selfless people I knew. It’s difficult,” Wilson said.

The Natomas skate park, which the two boys visited daily during their childhood, is now named Tire Nichols Skate Park in his honor.

“Me and Tire were always there. We were inseparable,” Wilson recalled.

Emmitt Martin, one of two officers who agreed to a plea deal with prosecutors and testified at the trial, told the court that Nichols was “helpless” while the officers beat him and that afterward the officers understood ” that they wouldn’t tell me anything.”, and I didn’t want to tell them.

Sacramento community representative Leia Schenk, founder of Empact, said Thursday's ruling is what many have been waiting for.

“I think that’s a strong message. That officers who commit such crimes are held accountable,” said Schenk. “Yes, they will for some time. Yes, they're all convicted now and that's great. But that's exactly what's supposed to happen. We shouldn’t have to beg for it, that’s how it should be.”

Schenk says Nichol's death should put police tactics in every community across our country under a microscope and begin a dialogue to create change.

“These are the conversations we need to have. They are difficult but necessary,” said Schenk. “It’s a step in the right direction, we say. But ultimately they took someone’s life and they should be held accountable for that.”

Each of the five former officers were also charged with second-degree murder in state court in Tennessee, where they pleaded not guilty, although Mills and Martin are expected to change their pleas.

“You took a man’s life for absolutely nothing,” Schenk said. “Progress means no longer having to talk about it. Knowing that this won't happen again. This is progress for us, this is what we want to see. We don’t want to lose any more lives.”

A trial date in a regional court has not yet been set.