VP Harris addresses mourners at Tyre Nichols' funeral

Tyre Nichols died three days after the violent encounter with Memphis police.

ByEmily Shapiro, Nakylah Carter, and Morgan Winsor
Last Updated: February 1, 2023, 6:18 PM EST

Tyre Nichols' family gathered in Memphis, Tennessee, for his funeral, weeks after the 29-year-old died following a violent encounter with Memphis police caught on body camera.

Graphic footage of the Jan. 7 traffic stop, which showed officers beating Nichols, was released to the public on Friday and sparked nationwide outrage. Nichols, a young father who loved skateboarding, died on Jan. 10, after spending three days in a hospital.

Five officers involved in the incident have since been fired and charged with several felonies, including second-degree murder.

Latest headlines:

Here's how the news is developing. All times Eastern.
Feb 01, 2023, 9:09 AM EST

Funeral delayed to 2 p.m. ET

Wednesday’s funeral has been delayed to 2 p.m. ET due to an ice storm in Memphis.

PHOTO: Dan Beazley, 61, of Northville, Mich., carries a 10-ft. homemade cross "to shine the light in the world of darkness" to Memphis Boulevard Christian Church before the memorial service for Tyre Nichols in Memphis, Tenn., Feb. 1, 2023.
Dan Beazley, 61, of Northville, Mich., carries a 10-ft. homemade cross to the front of Memphis Boulevard Christian Church before the memorial service for Tyre Nichols, who died after being beaten by Memphis Police officers, in Memphis, Tenn., Feb. 1, 2023. Beazley said he made the journey because he wanted to "shine the light in the world of darkness."
Ronda Churchill/Reuters

PHOTO: Terry Lawrence spreads ice melting salt around Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church where a funeral service for Tyre Nichols will be held, Feb. 1, 2023, in Memphis, Tenn.
Terry Lawrence spreads ice melting salt around Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church where a funeral service for Tyre Nichols will be held, Feb. 1, 2023, in Memphis, Tenn. Nichols was beaten by Memphis police officers, and later died from his injuries.
Jeff Roberson/AP

Feb 01, 2023, 6:11 AM EST

Memphis bridges to be lit up for Tyre Nichols

Two bridges in Memphis will be lit red and gold Wednesday night in honor of Tyre Nichols’ favorite football team, the San Francisco 49ers.

Feb 01, 2023, 5:23 AM EST

Vice President Harris to attend

Vice President Kamala Harris will travel to Memphis, Tennessee, to attend Tyre Nichols' funeral.

Nichols family attorney Ben Crump said Nichols' parents spoke with Harris on the phone for over 30 minutes.

Harris and Nichols' mother, RowVaughn Wells, "spoke exclusively, and during this emotional time, the Vice President was able to console Ms. Wells and even help her smile," Crump said in a statement on Tuesday.

Principal deputy press secretary Olivia Dalton said Tuesday, "When President Biden spoke with Mr. Nichols’ families last week, he told them that he was going to be making the case to Congress to pass the George Floyd justice and policing act."

Dalton added the administration's usual caveat that Biden has basically maxed out his executive authorities on the issue, and that Congress needs to act to effect further change.

"President Biden is committed to doing everything in his power to ensure our criminal justice system lives up to the promise of fair and impartial justice, equal treatment and dignity for all,” she said.

“We need Congress to come together and take action to ensure our justice system lives up to its name," she added.

-ABC News’ Sarah Kolinovsky

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