Former Minneapolis, Minnesota, police officer Derek Chauvin has been found guilty on all three counts against him in last year’s death of George Floyd.
On Tuesday, Chauvin was convicted of second-degree murder, or unintentional killing while committing a felony. He also was convicted of third-degree murder, defined in Minnesota as perpetrating an eminently dangerous act and “evincing” a depraved mind. Chauvin was also convicted of second-degree manslaughter, or culpable negligence creating unreasonable risk.
The jury, including eight White residents, four Black residents and two who identified as mixed race, deliberated over 10 hours this week before reaching unanimous verdicts.
Chauvin was accused of killing Floyd after kneeling on Floyd’s neck for over nine minutes after Floyd allegedly passed counterfeit money at a convenience store. Prosecutors said Chauvin’s actions were unreasonable and not part of the Minneapolis Police Department’s training or procedures. Chauvin’s defense team said Floyd resisted arrest and a reasonable officer would have increased the use of force to restrain Floyd. Defense attorneys also said the 9-minute, 29-second video of Floyd’s death that went viral shortly after the incident did not take into account the over 15 minutes immediately prior, including Floyd allegedly resisting arrest, and attorneys said Chauvin did not perform CPR because the crowd at the scene was becoming hostile.
Chauvin could get up to 40 years in prison on the second-degree murder charge.
Information from ABC News was used in this report.
