Staff and Wire Reports
MINNEAPOLIS — A jury convicted former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin guilty on three separate counts related to the death of George Floyd April 20.
Chauvin was found guilty of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in the death of Floyd last May 25.
Chauvin kneeled on Floyd’s neck for more than nine minutes while arresting him for allegedly passing a counterfeit $20 bill while buying cigarettes last Memorial Day.
Judge Peter Cahill ordered Chauvin to be taken into custody immediately and scheduled sentencing for eight weeks from now, with an actual date still to be determined.
Prior to the verdict, President Joe Biden, breaking his silence on the subject, said he was “praying the verdict is the right verdict” and suggested there was ample evidence for the jury to consider.
“It’s overwhelming, in my view,” Biden said in the Oval Office, where he was meeting with Hispanic lawmakers. “I wouldn’t say that unless the jury was sequestered.”
Biden had called Floyd’s death a tragedy but had avoided until now weighing in on a potential verdict, wary of appearing to influence an ongoing legal proceeding. Past presidents have also usually avoided signaling whether they believe high-profile defendants are guilty.
Law enforcement agencies across the Southland were in a state of readiness, concerned about a repeat of mass protests and unrest that occurred last summer.