George Floyd's Killers All Face Criminal Charges

Derek Chauvin, J. Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao face charges in the death of George Floyd. [CNN]

On June 4, CNN reports that the Minneanapolis Police Officer who killed George Floyd by kneeling on his neck was charged on June 3 with second-degree murder. He was previously charged with third-degree murder while the other three officers were not charged at all.

After a week of protesting, Alexander Kueng [26], Thomas Lane [37], and Tou Thao [34] have all been charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder. The Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said "I strongly believe that these developments are in the interest of justice for Mr. Floyd, his family, our community, and our state," when he announced the charges. The new second-degree charge for Derek Chauvin, who knelt on Floyd's neck for over 8 minutes, state that he killed Floyd without intent while committing assault in the third degree, according to an amended statement [CNN].

Chauvin is in custody at the Minnesota Department of Corrections Facility in Oak Park, and his bail was increased to $1 million on Wednesday. Lane, Thao, and Kueng are also held on a $1 million bail at county jail. Keung's attorney, Tom Plunkett, made a statement saying Kueng was "asked to turn himself in to face charges" on Wednesday and was in custody 15 minutes later.

Second degree murder along with aiding and abetting second degree murder face up to 40 years in prison and mansluaghter with aiding and abetting manslaughter are also punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Two autopsies did confirm that Floyd died by homicide and the cause of death was in fact asphyxiation, and Minneanapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo fired all four officers because they proved to be complicit in Floyd's killing.

The family of George Floyd and protesters across the U.S. have called for them to be arrested and charged; especially Chauvin who knelt on Floyd's neck for 3 minutes after he was unresponsive.The family said "this is a bittersweet moment" and that they are "deeply gratified."

SOURCE: CNN