Schools, universities across Memphis to close early
This story will be updated
The University of Memphis, LeMoyne-Owen College and Southwest Tennessee Community College have all announced they will either go completely virtual or close early Friday in anticipation of the release of the video showing the interaction between five Memphis Police officers and Tyre Nichols sometime after 6 p.m.
Memphis-Shelby County Schools has previously announced that all after school activities on Friday would be canceled.
Nichols, 29 died on Jan. 10, three days after being stopped by Memphis Police in an incident that is under investigation by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. It has led to the firing, arrests and indictments of five Memphis Police Officers.
The University of Memphis announced that "out of an abundance of caution for our faculty, staff and students" the Memphis campuses will close at 4:30 p.m. Friday. LeMoyne-Owen College that "due to traumatic events during this sensitive time" the campus would close a 1 p.m. and classes will continue virtually. Southwest Tennessee Community College went all virtual Friday.
Shelby County District Attorney General Steve Mulroy said that that while the release of the video is up to the City of Memphis, it is his understanding that the video will be a combination of body camera video and SkyCop video. Some of the video will be redacted, Mulroy said.
Officials and family members have been warned that the video is violent and difficult to watch, and family has urged parents to not allow their children to watch it.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis schools, universities to close early ahead of Nichols video
