In George Floyd death, ex-Minneapolis police officer Chauvin to be charged with 2nd-degree murder
3 other officers to also face charges, senator says
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The charges against former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin are being upped to second-degree murder in the death of George Floyd.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota) announced the move by the state's Attorney General Keith Ellison on Twitter Wednesday. She said the other three officers who were at the scene will also face charges.
Those officers, Thomas Lane, Tou Thao and J. Alexander Kueng, will be charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder, the Minnesota Star Tribune reported, citing anonymous sources. Like Chauvin, they have since been fired from the department.
“This is another important step for justice,” Klobuchar wrote.
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Chauvin had previously been charged with manslaughter and third-degree murder over Floyd's May 25 death in police custody. The change in the murder charge will increase the maximum sentence length on a conviction from 25 years to 40 years, according to state law.
Bystanders recorded video of Chauvin with his knee pinning handcuffed Floyd down by the neck in the street for more than eight minutes as Floyd repeatedly pleaded, saying he couldn't breathe. By the time Chauvin got up, Floyd had stopped moving.
Protesters demonstrate in front of Dallas City Hall in downtown Dallas, Saturday, May 30, 2020. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Floyd’s death sparked a wave of protests in cities across the U.S. over the ongoing treatment of African Americans by police and other institutions.
Minnesota officials are expected to officially announce the charges and share more details at a news conference Wednesday afternoon.
Check back for updates on this developing story.