Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin will reportedly face a second-degree murder charge in George Floyd's killing
This photo provided by the Ramsey County Sheriff's Office shows former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin, who was arrested Friday, May 29, 2020, in the Memorial Day death of George Floyd.
All four officers involved in the police killing of George Floyd on May 25 will face criminal charges — three for the first time, according to the Star Tribune.
Arresting officer Derek Chauvin pressed his knee to Floyd's neck for eight minutes and 46 seconds and ordered him to "relax" as the 46-year-old black man repeated, "Please, I can't breathe." Chauvin was arrested on May 26 on third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter charges.
Minneapolis Attorney General Keith Ellison now plans to pursue second-degree murder against Chavin, the Star Tribune reported. He is expected to make an announcement later Wednesday.
The three other officers at the scene — Tou Thao, J. Alexander Kueng, and Thomas Lane — had so far only lost their jobs, but will now be charged with aiding and abetting murder, sources told the Star Tribune. The newspaper cited law enforcement sources familiar with the case who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
Criminal defense attorney Earl Gray, who represents Lane, told The Associated Press that the Star Tribune's report "is accurate" before hanging up the phone.
Ben Crump, one of the attorneys representing the Floyd family, issued a statement on Facebook, calling it a "bittersweet moment."
"We are deeply gratified that Attorney General Keith Ellison took decisive action in this case, arresting and charging all the officers involved in George Floyd's death and upgrading the charge against Derek Chauvin to felony second-degree murder," he wrote.
Senator Amy Klobuchar, a Democratic senator representing Minnesota, called the decision an "important step for justice." Klobuchar is among the many contenders seeking to be presumptive Democratic candidate Joe Biden's running mate for the 2020 presidential election.
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