Officer involved in George Floyd death charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter

Derek Chauvin, a former Minneapolis officer involved in the death of George Floyd, has been charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter, local authorities announced Friday afternoon.

Chauvin, who was dismissed from the police department this week after the incident, was arrested Friday morning after days of unrest in the city following Floyd’s death.

Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman announced at a press conference Friday afternoon that police are in the process of reviewing evidence and Chauvin could face more charges.

A detailed complaint against Chauvin will be available Friday, Freeman said.

“We are in the processing of continuing to review the evidence,” he said. “There may be subsequent charges later.”

BREAKING UPDATE: Derek Chauvin has now been charged with third degree murder and manslaughter.pic.twitter.com/NRO2gVIMCe

— Philip DeFranco (@PhillyD) May 29, 2020

A third-degree murder charge in Minnesota has a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.

Freeman said that the case has moved at “extraordinary speed,” noting it’s the fastest the county has ever charged a police officer.

“I’m not insensitive to what’s happened in the streets,” Freeman said when asked if public outrage expedited the charges. “My job is to do it only when we have sufficient evidence, we have it today.”

Floyd died on Monday and the charges were filed Friday afternoon. Freeman said cases of this nature typically take nine months to a year from start to finish.

Chauvin was one of four officers fired on Tuesday after footage of Floyd’s arrest went viral.

Freeman said the investigation into the incident is currently focused on “the most dangerous perpetrator,” referring to Chauvin, who can be seen kneeling on Floyd’s neck for about eight consecutive minutes.

Freeman said it’s likely the other officers will face charges as well.

“I anticipate charges but I’m not going to get into that,” Freeman said.

Floyd’s death has also garnered attention from federal lawmakers.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), who’s on the short list to be former Vice President Joe Biden’s running mate this fall, called Chauvin’s arrest the “first step towards justice.”

On Thursday, Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee sent a letter to Attorney General William Barr asking the Justice Department to investigate how local law enforcement handled three recent high-profile killings of unarmed black people, including Floyd.

The Justice Department and the FBI are investigating whether the officers in Minneapolis violated federal civil rights laws.

“I am confident justice will be served,” Barr said in a statement Friday.

Updated at 3:52 p.m.