ALL 4 COPS CHARGED
Floyd case expands with charges against 3 others
All four former Minneapolis police officers seen in the videos showing the death of George Floyd will face charges.
Prosecutors on Wednesday expanded their case against the fired officers who were at the scene of Floyd’s death, charging three of them with aiding and abetting a murder and upgrading the charges against the officer who was seen pressing his knee on Floyd’s neck to second-degree murder.
The new charges were sought by Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison.
The most serious charge was filed against officer Derek Chauvin. Three other officers — Thomas Lane, J. Kueng and Tou Thao — were charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.
“George Floyd mattered. He was loved, his family was important, his life had
value, and we will seek justice for him and for you, and we will find it.”
Keith Ellison Minnesota attorney general
MINNEAPOLIS – Prosecutors charged a Minneapolis police officer accused of pressing his knee against George Floyd’s neck with a new more serious charge of second-degree murder on Wednesday, and for the first time leveled charges against three other officers at the scene, according to criminal complaints.
The updated criminal complaint against Derek Chauvin says the officer’s actions were a “substantial causal factor” in Floyd’s death.
“Officer Chauvin’s restraint of Mr. Floyd in this manner for a prolonged period was a substantial causal factor in Mr. Floyd losing consciousness, constituting substantial bodily harm, and Mr. Floyd’s death as well,” the criminal complaint said.
The complaints against the other officers allege they aided and abetted in Chauvin’s actions. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said warrants have been issued for their arrests. Chauvin was already in custody.
Widely seen bystander video showing Floyd’s May 25 death has sparked protests nationwide and around the world against police brutality and discrimination. Chauvin was fired May 26 and initially charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. The three other officers involved were also fired but were not immediately charged.
Ellison updated the complaint against Chauvin to add a charge of unintentional second-degree murder, in addition to the earlier charges. He also charged Thomas Lane, J. Kueng and Tou Thao with aiding and abetting seconddegree murder and second-degree manslaughter.
The unintentional second-degree murder charge alleges that Chauvin caused Floyd’s death without intent while committing another felony offense, namely third-degree assault. It carries a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison, compared with a maximum of 25 years for third-degree murder.
The other officers face the same maximum penalties for aiding and abetting, if convicted.
“George Floyd mattered. He was loved, his family was important, his life had value, and we will seek justice for him and for you, and we will find it,” Ellison said.
Attorney Earl Gray, who represents Lane, told The Associated Press that he hadn’t seen the complaint or talked with his client. He said Lane was not in custody. Before news of the upgraded charges, an attorney for Chauvin said he was not making any statements at this time. Attorneys for Thao and Kueng did not return messages seeking comment on the charges.
Attorney Ben Crump said Ellison had told the family his office will continue to investigate and upgrade charges against Chauvin to first-degree murder if warranted. Reached by phone, Crump declined to speak beyond the statement or make clear when Ellison had spoken with the family and whether he had been informed directly that additional charges had been filed.