3 More Ex-Cops Charged in George Floyd’s Death and Derek Chauvin Faces New Murder Charge

Three more former police officers who were involved in the arrest of George Floyd in Minneapolis have been charged in connection to his death, and the officer who pressed a knee to Floyd’s neck faces a new charge of second-degree murder, according to court documents.

The three additional officers — Thomas Lane, Tou Thao and J. Alexander Kueng — have been charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. All four officers have been fired.

Derek Chauvin, 44, was charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter in Floyd’s death last week. Chauvin pressed his knee on Floyd’s neck for more than eight minutes, including two minutes in which Floyd was unresponsive, according to prosecutors. The bail for each officer has been set at $1 million.

“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 when announcing the new charges Wednesday.

Floyd’s death has ignited anti-police brutality protests across the nation. Charges against the three other officers on the scene have been a key demand of demonstrators in Minneapolis and elsewhere. Ellison said the sweeping protests across the country did not play a factor in the decision to charge the former officers. (Read more from “3 More Ex-Cops Charged in George Floyd’s Death and Derek Chauvin Faces New Murder Charge” HERE)

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