Tyre Nichols (1993–2023) was a 29-year-old Black man, photographer, skateboarder, and father known for his free-spirited personality, infectious laughter, and diverse interests in music, filmmaking, and art.[1][2][3][5] Born in Memphis, Tennessee, he spent his formative years in Sacramento, California, where he embraced skateboarding in a predominantly non-Black skate scene, built lifelong friendships, and developed a passion for landscape photography while helping care for his dying father during high school.[1][3] Despite a diagnosis of Crohn's disease as a teen, Nichols maintained an optimistic outlook, listening to rap, reggae, and country music without conforming to stereotypes, and once aspired to fame through his creative pursuits.[1][3] In 2020, he relocated to Memphis to be near his mother, RowVaughn Wells, taking jobs at FedEx—where colleagues admired his quirky California vibe—and Starbucks, while staying active in the local skate community.[2][3] On January 7, 2023, Nichols was pulled over by Memphis Police for alleged reckless driving, just minutes from home; he fled after an initial altercation involving threats and a failed Taser attempt.[4] Five Black officers from the now-disbanded Scorpion Unit then severely beat him, as captured on body and pole cameras, leading to his hospitalization in critical condition with extensive bleeding from the assault; he died three days later on January 10.[2][4][5][6] The officers were fired on January 20, arrested on January 26 for second-degree murder, kidnapping, assault, and misconduct, and pleaded not guilty; two firefighters were also relieved of duty.[2][4] An independent autopsy confirmed the beating's fatal impact.[4] Nichols' death sparked national protests against police brutality, renewed calls for the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, and discussions on policing history, positioning him as a symbol of racial justice advocacy.[1][6] His family and friends remember him as a selfless artist who "loved everyone," not defined by victimhood.[1][2]