Ex Officer J. Alexander Kueng Pleads Guilty in George Floyd Murder Case, While Tou Thao Wants Judge to Decide His Fate

“Today, as always, my thoughts are with the victims: George Floyd and his family. Floyd should still be with us. I think of him and his family every day.

“J. Alexander Kueng is now the second officer involved in Floyd’s death to accept responsibility through a guilty plea. That acknowledgement hopefully can bring comfort to Floyd’s family and bring our communities closer to a new era of accountability and justice.

“We look forward to a swift resolution of Tou Thao’s stipulated bench trial.

“I want to thank everyone who has worked so selflessly on this historic case for more than two years. This includes the staff of my office, the other attorneys who gave so generously of their time, and the investigators and staff of the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. I offer special thanks to Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman for his close partnership and the diligence and cooperation of his attorneys and staff. I also want to thank the witnesses who were prepared to testify at trial.

“Finally, I want to thank the Floyd family for their graciousness and generosity of spirit. They are a shining example of people who have turned a personal tragedy of immense proportions into a movement for justice for all that is far bigger than themselves.”

Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman also offered the following statement:

“I concur with the statements of Attorney General Ellison. It is great to bring these matters to a just conclusion. This is true for all concerned parties, including Mr. Floyd’s family, the potential witnesses, and the community, as well as for public safety.

“I must congratulate Attorney General Ellison and his staff for their leadership on this effort. While this was a joint endeavor between our offices, Keith displayed remarkable leadership and a true commitment to bringing justice in this case. I thank him for our partnership.”