Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis officer who killed George Floyd, has been taken into custody and charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter in connection with Floyd’s death.
News about the arrest broke at a news conference Friday, followed by Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman’s official announcement with the official charges.
“It is one officer, Derek Chauvin, is what I was told was the officer that was taken into custody today,” said John Harrington, Minneapolis Department of Pubic Safety Commissioner. “We’ll have more information on the details of this.”
Chauvin, the officer who knelt on George Floyd’s neck for more than seven minutes while Floyd expressed he couldn’t breathe, could be facing subsequent charges following the investigation, according to Freeman.
The news comes after nights of protests in Minneapolis, which has been in a state of unrest since Floyd’s death earlier this week on Memorial Day.
After videos of George Floyd’s death went viral, the four officers involved were fired but people felt the punishment was not enough and demanded the officers be charged with murder.
On Thursday, when asked about forthcoming charges, Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman said while he found the evidence in the video “horrific,” he also explained that there was “other evidence” that did not support a criminal charge and that he would not rush the investigation.
Naturally, that declaration from Freeman had people upset and concerned that charges would not be brought forward.
It was unclear as of Friday afternoon if the other officers involved would be facing charges. Hennepin stressed how quick these charges were brought forward toward Chauvin.
We will keep you posted on any updates.
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