Youngkin Comments On Tyre Nichols Video, DC Police 'Fully Activated'

WASHINGTON, DC — Washington, D.C., police were "fully activated" in preparation for the Friday release of police video depicting five Memphis officers beating a Black man, an attack that eventually resulted in his death.

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Friday evening released a statement after the video was released showing the deadly assault of Tyre Nichols by the Memphis, Tennessee, police department.

“The hearts of Virginians and our entire nation ache tonight as we struggle with the horrible events in Memphis and grieve for Tyre Nichols and his family," Youngkin said. "The disturbing and shocking video released this evening displays incomprehensible violence towards another human being and we must condemn these heinous actions.

“As we process these agonizing events, I ask those exercising their first amendment rights to do so peacefully. We will ensure Virginians’ first amendment rights as we prioritize and protect the safety of the Commonwealth and all Virginians. We can choose to come together and not further the divide. We must strive each day to better our communities and treat one another with love and respect.

The Memphis officers, all of whom are Black, were charged Thursday with murder and other crimes in the killing of Nichols, a motorist who died three days after a confrontation with the officers during a traffic stop on Jan. 7.

Nichols' family members and their lawyers said the footage shows officers savagely beating the 29-year-old FedEx worker for three minutes in an assault the legal team likened to the infamous 1991 police beating of Los Angeles motorist Rodney King.

According to a spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police Department, the agency had "fully activated all sworn personnel in preparation for possible First Amendment activities in the District of Columbia."

The spokesperson said the department was briefed on the case and acknowledged the video contains "disturbing content that does not represent the values that any law enforcement officers are sworn to uphold."

Memphis Police Director Cerelyn Davis described the officers' actions as "heinous, reckless and inhumane" and said Friday that her department could not substantiate the reckless driving allegation that prompted the stop.

The officers each face second-degree murder, aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping, official misconduct, and official oppression.

Four of the five officers had posted bond as of Friday morning and had been released from custody, according to court and jail records.

According to a WUSA report, all MPD officers will be on duty on 12-hour shifts ahead of any possible protests in Washington, D.C. Officers will remain on those shifts until the activation protocol is lifted, the station reported.

"MPD respects the community's First Amendment right to demonstrate and peacefully protest," a department spokesperson told Patch. "We will not tolerate any unlawful behavior during First Amendment demonstrations, and we will take swift law enforcement action should anyone break the law."

Police are encouraging the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity by calling 911 or using the iWatch suspicious activity reporting tool.

In Memphis, Nichols's family members pleaded for peaceful protests.

"I don't want us burning up our city, tearing up the streets because that's not what my son stood for," Nichols' mother, RowVaughn Wells, said Thursday. "If you guys are here for me and Tyre, then you will protest peacefully."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.