All four ex-Minneapolis police officers involved in the arrest and death of George Floyd last week are now facing charges.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison announced Wednesday a third-degree murder charge against Derek Chauvin has been upgraded to second-degree murder.
“I believe the evidence available to us now support the stronger charge of second-degree murder,” said Ellison during a news conference.
Chauvin was recorded on video with his knee on Floyd’s neck for several minutes before he became unresponsive.
Ellison also announced charges of aiding and abetting second-degree murder against the other three former officers who were present during the arrest – Thomas Lane, J. Alexander Kueng and Tou Thao.
“I strongly believe that these developments are in the interest of justice for Mr. Floyd, his family, our community and our state,” he said.
Governor Tim Walz paid his respects to Floyd by laying flowers at a memorial created on the site where Floyd was killed.
He calls the charges a meaningful step toward justice for Floyd, his family, the city and the state.
“But we must also recognize that the anguish driving protests around the world is about more than one tragic incident,” says Walz. “George Floyd’s death is the symptom of a disease. We will not wake up one day and have the disease of systemic racism cured for us. This is on each of us to solve together, and we have hard work ahead.”
Floyd’s death has led to protests in dozens of cities across the United States, some of which have turned violent.
A curfew, first imposed last Friday for Minneapolis and St. Paul, has been extended for another two nights.
