Authorities Investigating Rumor That Tyre Nichols Was in a Relationship With Officer’s Ex

It started as a rumor.

Sir Maejor, an ethnically-black actor and model with fair skin due albinism, Tweet Monday “I am being told that Tyre Nichols was in a relationship with and worked at a Memphis @FedEx with #MemphisPolice Demetrius Halys’s ex-girlfriend & baby mama.” This is not all. “After the beating Officer Halys took a pictures of #TyreNichols face and sent it to his babymama.”

Maejor added another day. Disclaimer In all caps “THIS IS MERELY SPECULATIONS AND OR A RUMOR AT THIS POINT — THIS INFORMATION HAS NOT BEEN CONFIRMED.” This statement comported with what I assumed to be the case — that Twitter is full of unfounded rumors and nonsense, and that it was kind of tacky to be spreading stories about a man who had just suffered a horrific death.

Yet, the mere fact that someone in good standing would post such a thing made it seem possible. So I did some digging and found the truth of the story. was being reported By none other than Newsweek. The outlet also revealed that the Memphis Police Department was investigating the matter. The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), was looking into the matter:

The Memphis Police Department is currently investigating rumors regarding a possible connection between Tyre Nichols and the ex-wife or ex-girlfriend of one of the Memphis cops arrested and charged in Nichols’ death.

On Wednesday morning, Newsweek asked the Shelby County district attorney’s office if it is investigating possible rumors connecting Nichols to the ex-girlfriend or ex-wife of former Memphis cop Demetrius Haley. Additionally, Newsweek Questioned about rumors Haley may have sent Nichols photos following the violent arrest of the Black man aged 29.

“All of this is still under investigation. Those are the things, along with the participation of others, that [are] now the subject of our investigation,” A spokesperson for Shelby County’s district attorney said Newsweek As a response.

Newsweek later spoke with the Shelby County district attorney’s office communications director, Erica Williams, who told them, “We know that there have been questions about other officers and Fire Department personnel on the scene, persons remotely operating cameras, the potential of false reporting, among other things. We are now at the stage of our investigation where we are looking into all of these matters.” Williams added: “At this time none of those accusations are confirmed. However, nothing is off the table as this is a very active investigation—and still early in the investigation.”

Related: Two officers involved in Tyre Nichols’ Death were hired after Memphis PD reduced Recruiting Standards.

The rumors immediately triggered reactions from people who claimed they’d had a hunch there was more to the story. Commenters on Maejor’s original post wrote things like, “I said this to my colleagues on day 1 of the video’s release. It was 100% personal and involving a woman. Guess we’ll see,” “I’ve said this from the moment I saw the video. Didn’t know the whole of it but knew it had to be about one of the cops [sic] family. I was guessing a sister. As soon as the video showed the cops standing Nichols up. Just one cop beat him in a circle,” “I thought it was personal after watching the video too,” “It sure did seem they were after him for personal reasons. Absolutely sickening what they did.” Additionally, critics have been pointing out that there has yet to be given a good explanation for the initial traffic stop — another detail that could be explained as the personal targeting of Nichols.

Is the rumor true? Tyre Nichols’ stepfather, Rodney Wells, asserted That “My son was not messing around with one of the officer’s wives” Monday. That does not address the issue of whether he was in a relationship with Officer Demetrius Haley’s Ex, however.

The Nichols family lawyer The attorney insists that the rumor is false. And a spokesman for the attorney “Also said whether Tyre was specifically targeted or not, it does not change the fact that the assault on Tyre was a gross abuse of power by several MPD officers who contributed to his beating and eventual death,” According Alex Caprariello is a NewsNation reporter. “That is the focus of their investigation and legal proceedings.”

Yes, but even more so — beyond the wrangling over sordid rumors, personal grudges, laying blame, and political appropriation of a tragedy — there remains a young man who suffered and died and his surviving family members who will carry a crushing burden all their remaining days. Pray for them.

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