Four Former Minneapolis Cops Charged In Connection With The Murder Of George Floyd

All four former Minneapolis cops have been charged with the murder of a Black man during an arrest.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

June 4, 2020

Minneapolis, MN - On Wednesday, state prosecutors charged former Minneapolis police officers Tou Thao, 34, J. Alexander Kueng, 26, and Thomas Lane, 37, each with aiding and abetting second-degree murder while committing a felony, and with aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter with culpable negligence in connection with the murder of George Floyd, 46, an African-American on May 25th, Memorial Day. Both charges are categorized as "unintentional" felonies under Minnesota state law. The three ex-cops were booked at the Hennepin County jail on Wednesday and bail was set at $1M. If convicted, Thao, Kueng and Lane are facing up to 10 years in prison.

Also, former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, 44, who was arrested four days after Floyd's homicide had his charged amended to second-degree murder, in addition to the original charges of third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter with culpable negligence, according to the criminal complaint. Chauvin was video recorded by a witness holding his knee on Floyd's neck for nearly 9 minutes contributing to Floyd's death. If convicted, Chauvin is facing up to more than 60 years in prison for both murder charges. Chauvin's bail was set at $1M.

Chauvin was moved to a maximum security prison after being booked for murder. 

Floyd was accused of trying to purchase cigarettes with a $20 counterfeit bill.

The Floyd homicide sparked protests for justice in Minneapolis and throughout the U.S., since Memorial Day. Thao is Hmong and Kueng, Lane and Chauvin are White.

The Hennepin County Medical Examiner's Office ruled Floyd's death a homicide caused by "a cardiopulmonary arrest while being restrained" by officers who had subjected Floyd to "subdual" and "neck compression". It noted other "significant conditions": arteriosclerotic heart disease, hypertensive heart disease, fentanyl intoxication, and recent methamphetamine use. Also an independent autopsy ruled Floyd's death a homicide by asphyxia due to compression of the neck", which affects the "blood flow and oxygen going into the brain".