Derek Chauvin, a former Minneapolis Police officer responsible for the death of George Floyd, was newly charged on Wednesday with a count of second-degree murder, and the three other officers on scene during his killing were charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder.
This development comes on the heels of nationwide protests against police brutality against black citizens in the country.
“I strongly believe that these developments are in the interest of justice for Mr. Floyd, his family, our community and our state,” Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said in announcing the charges.
Derek Chauvin, who pressed his knee into Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes, was previously charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. The new second-degree murder charge says he killed Floyd “without intent” in the course of committing assault in the third degree, according to an amended complaint.
Thomas Lane and J. Alexander Kueng, who helped restrain Floyd, and Tou Thao, who stood near the others, were not initially charged.
Lane, 37, Kueng, 26, and Thao, 34, are now charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder and aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter.
