Memphis councilman breaks down in tears over bodycam footage of the beating of Tyre Nichols: ‘This wasn’t supposed to happen’

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In an emotional interview with CNN’s Don Lemon, Memphis City Council chairman Martavius Jones broke down in tears over the death of 29-year-old Tyre Nichols, saying “this wasn’t supposed to happen.”

Bodycam footage released Friday night revealed police interactions with Nichols, who had been pulled over in a traffic stop, including the brutal beating that ultimately killed him. The five officers involved in the incident have been charged with second-degree murder.

“Don, we have to do something,” Jones told Lemon in the clip, which has since gone viral on social media. “Not that we were immune to anything, but this wasn’t supposed to happen in our community. This was a traffic stop, it wasn’t supposed to end like this.”

Jones was so overcome with emotion in the interview that he was unable to speak, breaking down in tears over the violent footage that showed Nichols being repeatedly kicked, beaten with batons, and electrocuted with a taser. The footage prompted nationwide protests over the brutality of the officers involved.

“We gotta do something,” Jones told Lemon. “You know, to think that this is my last year in office. We have to build a better Memphis. We gotta build a better Memphis for Mr. Nichols. We have to let his legacy — his sacrifice, the sacrifice that his mother will not have her son anymore — we cannot let this go unaddressed. So I hope that, well I’m sure, that my colleagues will stand with me, we’re gonna have some tough conversations.”