Washington, 1-30-2023 (AFP) - Memphis police announced Monday the dismissal of a sixth element, in connection with the severe beating of black youth Tyree Nichols, whose death shocked the United States in a case in which five elements were charged with murder.
Memphis Police spokeswoman Kim Elder said in a statement that Officer Burston Hemphill "was relieved of duty at the beginning of the investigation into the death of Tyree Nichols along with other officers."

Hemphill joined the service in 2018, and Elder said he has been suspended "pending the results of the ongoing investigation."
Memphis police opened an investigation into the circumstances of Nichols' death, 29, three days after he was arrested on January 7 for reckless driving near his place of residence.

A long video clip captured by police cameras and a street surveillance camera shows the five police officers arresting Nichols and beating him, kicking and punching him, while he groans in pain and calls out to his mother.

Nichols died three days later in hospital. He is scheduled to be buried Wednesday in Memphis.

Last week, the five officers, all black, were charged with second-degree murder for the assault on Tyree Nichols.

And on Saturday, the Memphis police disbanded the Scorpion unit, to which the five elements belong, and which was formed in November 2021 with the aim of reducing illegal activities in troubled neighborhoods by deploying more police officers in them.

"It is in everyone's interest to permanently disband the Scorpion unit," a police statement said, adding that "the police officers in the unit agreed without reservation."