April 20, 2021
Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was found guilty of all three charges against him, including two counts of murder, for killing George Floyd last year by kneeling on Floyd's neck while he was in police custody.
The jury found Chauvin guilty of second- and third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. In Minnesota, the second-degree murder charge carries a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison and third-degree murder carries a maximum sentence of up to 25 years in prison. Second-degree manslaughter has a maximum of 10 years in prison.
Chauvin's sentencing will be held in approximately eight weeks. His bail was revoked and he was taken into the custody of the Hennepin County Sheriff after the verdict was read.
Floyd's horrific death in the the custody of Minneapolis police on May 25, 2020, became a tipping point across the United States and the rest of the world, prompting protests against systemic racism and brutality in law enforcement. Floyd, 46, became a symbol of police oppression against the Black community, often at the hands of white officers like Chauvin.
Chauvin's trial, which included testimony from 44 witnesses, centered on questions of the former officer's level of responsibility for Floyd's death during the tense interaction. Chauvin knelt on Floyd's neck for 9 minutes, 29 seconds as bystanders filmed the encounter and Floyd pleaded to be able to breathe.
Prosecutors argued that Chauvin's actions caused Floyd's death from asphyxia. Chauvin's defense team claimed Floyd died as a result of illegal drug use and a pre-existing heart condition.
For more on the case and the aftermath of Tuesday's verdict, check out in-depth coverage from The New York Times, the Minneapolis Star Tribune and the Washington Post.
