At the VIP Barbershop less than a mile away from where Tyre Nichols was attacked by five Memphis Police officers, PJ, the shop's owner, described the moment he realised that Mr Nichols was from his community.

He recognised him as the quiet young man who would skate through his shop's parking lot.

"He would ride his skateboard with headphones on, just coasting and minding his business," he said. "He never bothered anyone."

As PJ spoke about Mr Nichols, 29, his violent death and the video of his beating that's soon to be released, the barbershop's lunchtime crowd nodded in agreement.