Derek Chauvin, the former US police officer infamous for the killing of George Floyd that triggered widespread racial justice protests in 2020, reportedly endured a stabbing in prison on Friday, as per the New York Times, citing anonymous sources.
Chauvin, a white officer, gained notoriety for kneeling on the neck of George Floyd, a Black man, for over nine minutes on a Minneapolis street despite Floyd’s pleas. The incident, caught on video, led to massive protests, with Floyd’s final words, “I can’t breathe,” becoming a rallying cry for demonstrators.
The US Federal Bureau of Prisons acknowledged an assault at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Tucson in Arizona, without disclosing the identity of the injured person. The statement mentioned that employees took life-saving measures and transported the individual to a local hospital.
Chauvin was convicted in 2021 on charges of second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter, receiving a sentence of 22 and a half years in prison. The video evidence of the incident played a pivotal role in galvanizing protests and sparking a broader conversation on racism and policing globally.
A Justice Department investigation published in June 2023 revealed widespread issues in the Minneapolis police department, including routine use of violent and racist practices, and “unlawful discrimination against Black and Native American people” when enforcing the law.
The city of Minneapolis, in a settlement, agreed to pay $27 million to George Floyd’s family in a wrongful death lawsuit. Chauvin, discontent with his conviction, appealed to the US Supreme Court, which rejected his appeal earlier this month.
In a recent documentary, Chauvin, speaking from prison, characterized the entire trial, including the sentencing, as a “sham.” Despite his commitment to the job, earning four medals throughout his career, Chauvin had a history of 22 internal complaints and investigations. Only one complaint, filed by a white woman in 2007, resulted in a letter of reprimand after Chauvin violently pulled her from her car in front of her crying infant for speeding.