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Revelation of new George Floyd death video 2:48
(CNN) - Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison increased charges against former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin for second-degree murder in the death of George Floyd and will also charge the other three officers involved in the incident, according to A tweet from US Senator Amy Klobuchar.
Ellison's official announcement is expected to come Wednesday afternoon, more than a week after Floyd was killed while in police custody in Minneapolis, sparking protests across the country calling for an end to police violence. against black citizens.
Chauvin, who had his knee pressed against Floyd's neck for nearly nine minutes, had previously been charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. Agents Thomas Lane and JA Keung, who helped contain Floyd, and a fourth agent, Tou Thao, who was close to the others, had not been initially charged.
Two autopsies on Floyd determined that he died of homicide. Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo fired the four officers and said they were "complicit" in Floyd's death. Floyd's family and protesters across the country have called for them to be arrested and convicted of the murder.
According to the video and the criminal complaint, Chauvin kept his knee on Floyd's neck when Floyd declared that he was unable to breathe, as witnesses protested that he was dying, and even despite Lane's twice requesting that he be cast aside. Still, Chauvin kept his knee around his neck for nearly three minutes after Floyd was unconscious, according to the complaint.
Benjamin Crump, an attorney for the Floyd family, said on Twitter that the family was satisfied with the new charges.
“FAMILY REACTION: This is a bittersweet moment. We are deeply satisfied that (Ellison) has taken decisive action, arresting and charging ALL officers involved in the death of # GeorgeFloyd and improving the charge against Derek Chauvin for the felony of second-degree murder, ”he said. .
Under Minnesota law, third-degree murder is defined as causing the death of a person "by perpetrating an eminently dangerous act for others and evidencing a depraved mind," without regard to danger to life, but without the intent of kill.
Second-degree murder, a more serious charge, is defined as when one person causes the death of another with the intention of effecting that person's death but without premeditation.