Fired Officer Derek Chauvin Who Killed George Floyd Has Been Charged With Third-Degree Murder And Manslaughter

Fired Minneapolis police officer #DerekChauvin has been arrested and charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter for killing #GeorgeFloyd. 

Floyd’s death has ignited protests around the country, with millions calling for the arrest of Chauvin. Just four days after he killed Floyd by continuously kneeling on his neck, it was finally announced that Chauvin had been arrested. On Friday, John Harrington, commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, revealed that Chauvin had been taken into custody by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, according to CBS Minnesota. He was arrested in Minneapolis. 

“We have now been able to put together the evidence that we need. Even as late as yesterday afternoon, we did not have all that we needed. This is by far the fastest that we’ve ever charged a police officer,” Freeman said. Freeman did not reveal what evidence helped facilitate his arrest and charges. 

We’ve all seen the heartbreaking and infuriating video that has led many to the streets in protest. But on Friday, a criminal complaint with details about Floyd’s arrest was released. According to CBS Minnesota, the incident began when officers responded to a report of a man making a purchase with a fake $20 bill. When the police arrived, they found Floyd parked in his car around the corner from the Cup Foods store he allegedly ripped off. Officers Thomas Lane and J Alexander Kueng were the first to arrive, and two other people were in the car with Floyd. 

When Lane started talking to Floyd, he pulled out his gun, pointed it at Floyd and told him to put his hands on the steering wheel. Lane then put his gun back in its holster. Lane then told Floyd to get out of the car but and handcuffed him. Police claim Floyd “actively resisted being handcuffed” however there is no footage that supports their claims. Floyd ended up sitting down on the ground, facing Lane. The outlet says when Lane and Keung tried to take Floyd to their car, he  “stiffened up, fell to the ground and told the officers he was claustrophobic;” Chauvin and Tou Thao came to the scene in a separate car.

Eventually, the officers stood Floyd up, but they claim Floyd kept intentionally falling to the ground. At around 8:19 p.m. they took Floyd out of the car, where they had placed him, and Floyd went face down to the ground while still handcuffed. Keung and Lane were holding Floyd’s back and legs when Chauvin “placed his left knee in the area of Mr. Floyd’s head and neck.” Despite Floyd saying he couldn’t breathe, begging to be relieved of his strangulation Chauvin insisted that he continue to knee him in his neck. Other officers voiced their concern that Floyd might go into “delirium” even suggested rolling him on his side and but Chauvin denied their advice. 

By 8:24 p.m., Floyd had stopped moving. Kueng checked the victim’s pulse and said he “couldn’t find one,” they returned to their positions. It wasn’t until paramedics came three minutes later that Chauvin removed his knee from Floyd’s neck. Floyd was taken to Hennepin Healthcare, where he died. CNN released a statement from Hennepin County Medical Examiner that reads: “The autopsy revealed no physical findings that support a diagnosis of traumatic asphyxia or strangulation. Mr. Floyd had underlying health conditions, including coronary artery disease and hypertensive heart disease. The combined effects of Mr. Floyd being restrained by the police, his underlying health conditions, and any potential intoxicants in his system likely contributed to his death.” 

CBS Minnesota reports that Chauvin kneeled on Floyd for  8 minutes and 46 seconds total. The outlet reports that two minutes and 53 seconds of that time was after Floyd was no longer moving. Third-degree murder means a homicide committed with the intention of causing bodily harm, but not necessarily death. It can be a killing that results from indifference or negligence or recklessness, according to the website definitions.uslegal.com. If convicted, Chauvin could face 25 years in prison on the murder charge and up to 10 years in prison for manslaughter.