SCORPION Unit 'permanently deactivated' after Tyre Nichols death

President Joe Biden spoke with Nichols' mother and stepfather in a phone call Friday ahead of the footage's public release.

"He was a hell of a kid, a handsome boy," Biden said.

Nichols' mother, RowVaughn Wells, told Biden that Nichols had her name tattooed on his arm.

"I do know that," Biden said. "I love it."

Ben Crump, the family's attorney, said on the call that the video will "evoke strong emotion," and urged U.S. lawmakers to watch.

"This gives you another opportunity to call for them to come back and pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, so we can try to prevent the next Tyre Nichols from happening," Crump said.

"We're in full agreement," Biden said, noting that he passed an executive order on police reform, "but we got to get it for local police."

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Biden speaks with Tyre Nichols' family ahead of bodycam video release

President Joe Biden spoke with Tyre Nichols’ mother and stepfather Friday afternoon to offer his condolences, a White House official said.

ABCNews.com

As he departed the White House for Camp David Friday evening, Biden recapped his call with Nichols' mother, which he said lasted about 10 to 15 minutes.

"I told her that I was going to be making the case to the Congress they should pass the George Floyd act. We should get this under control," he said. "I can only do so much in the executive order at the federal level."

The president also recounted that Wells called for peaceful protests.

"I'm obviously very concerned about it, but I think she has made a very strong plea," he said.

--with ABC News' Molly Nagle

The attorney representing former Memphis Police Officer Desmond Mills, one of the five charged in Tyre Nichols' death, spoke with ABC News Friday evening.

Blake Ballin said his client was "maintaining a lot of strength" in the last two weeks and asking how he can cooperate with the investigation.

Ballin said he couldn't comment on the details about the incident but contended that he didn't believe that Mills delivered the fatal blow.

The attorney added Mills was a responding officer and not the first to arrive on the scene.

"Everybody played their own role. I suspect you’ll see officers crossed the line but not Desmond," Ballin said.

The attorney said he didn't see the body camera footage of the incident, which is slated to be released to the public later tonight.

-ABC News' Stephanie Ramos

President Joe Biden has not seen the Tyre Nichols video that’s set to be released to the public Friday evening, but the president has spoken to Nichols’ family, according to the White House.

“He’s been briefed, but he has not seen the video, nor has anyone at the White House seen the video,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Friday.

Biden spoke with Nichols’ mother and stepfather Friday afternoon to offer his condolences, a White House official said.

Jean Pierre reiterated that Biden has echoed Nichols' family's calls for calm and peaceful protests. But the White House is “in coordination with the relevant agencies to ensure they prepare if protests become violent,” she added.

-ABC News’ Molly Nagle

The Memphis Fire Department said it received the video of Tyre Nichols’ traffic stop on Friday and is currently reviewing the footage.

Two Memphis Fire Department employees who responded to the scene where Nichols was injured have been relieved of duty in the wake of Nichols' death.

The Memphis Fire Department said its investigation will conclude early next week.