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Prosecutors have now charged all four police officers involved in George Floyd’s death.
Derek Chauvin, the former officer who kept his knee on Floyd’s neck for almost nine minutes, had his charges expanded this week to include the more serious one of second-degree murder.
This was added to charges of third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.
The other three officers – Thomas Lane and J. Alexander Kueng, who helped restrain Floyd, and Tou Thao, who stood nearby – are charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder and aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter.
Let’s break down these charges:
What this means for prosecutors:
To prove third-degree murder, prosecutors have to show that Chauvin carried out “an act eminently dangerous to others and evincing a depraved mind,” without intent to kill, but without regard for life.
To prove second-degree murder, prosecutors have to prove the intention to kill or that the person caused a death while committing another felony crime.
In Buffalo, New York, two police officers have been suspended without pay after knocking down a 75-year-old man during the protests, Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown said in a statement on Thursday night.
Brown said he was “deeply disturbed” by video of the incident, and that the police commissioner has directed an immediate investigation into the matter.
“After days of peaceful protests and several meetings between myself, police leadership and members of the community, tonight’s event is disheartening,” he said. “My thoughts are with the victim tonight.”
The video shows the man falling backward after being pushed and lying still with what appears to be blood on the ground below his head.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo also condemned the incident, saying he had spoken with Brown about it.
“This incident is wholly unjustified and utterly disgraceful. I’ve spoken with Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown and we agree that the officers involved should be immediately suspended pending a formal investigation. Police Officers must enforce — NOT ABUSE — the law,” Cuomo tweeted.
