Memphis brace for riots ahead of Tyre Nichols police body cam release, Biden calls for calm

The city of Memphis, Tennessee, is bracing for riots Friday night after authorities release the police body-cam video in the death of the officer-related death of Tyre Nichols.

Memphis has been on edge since early this month, when Nichols, a black male, died in a Jan. 7 encounter with police after being pulled over for allegedly reckless driving. He was allegedly beaten during the encounter.

Nichols later died from injuries allegedly sustained in the encounter.

The five police officers – Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills, Jr. and Justin Smith – have all been terminated. 

They were indicted Thursday on murder charges in connection with the death.

Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn Davis said during a recent Good Morning America interview that she was horrified by the Nichols arrest. 

"In my 36 years, I would have to say, I don't think I've ever been more horrified and disgusted, sad ... and to some degree confused," Davis said during the interview. 

Nichols was stopped at a traffic light when the officers pulled him over for reported reckless driving where the beatings later allegedly occurred. 

"As far as I know today, I do believe that the stop itself was very questionable. We have been unable to verify the reckless driving allegation," Davis also said.

President Biden on Friday morning called for peaceful protests ahead of the release of the body cam footage.