Derek Chauvin, convicted in George Floyd's death, stabbed in prison
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Derek Chauvin, the ex-Minneapolis police officer convicted of George Floyd's murder, has been reportedly stabbed at a federal prison in Tucson, Arizona.
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In this image taken from a video, former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin addresses the court at the Hennepin County Courthouse, on June 25, 2021, in Minneapolis. (Court TV via AP)
Derek Chauvin, the former US police officer convicted in the murder of George Floyd, was reportedly stabbed in prison on Friday, according to unnamed sources cited by The New York Times.
Chauvin, who knelt on Floyd's neck, leading to massive protests following his death, is serving a 22-and-a-half-year sentence.
The stabbing occurred at the Federal Correctional Institution in Tucson, Arizona.
The US Federal Bureau of Prisons confirmed the assault but did not disclose the injured person's identity.
"An incarcerated individual was assaulted at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Tucson," in the southwestern state of Arizona, it said in a statement.
"Responding employees initiated life-saving measures for one incarcerated individual," the statement added. "The incarcerated individual was transported... to a local hospital for further treatment and evaluation."
Today marks the anniversary of #GeorgeFloyd's death, which triggered one of the #US' largest protests against #PoliceBrutality and #racism. pic.twitter.com/Z1V9Yr697x
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) May 25, 2023
The big picture
Chauvin's conviction was a pivotal moment in the reckoning on racism and policing, triggering nationwide demonstrations.
The US Supreme Court recently rejected Derek Chauvin's appeal of his murder conviction for the killing of George Floyd. Chauvin, a former police officer, is also attempting to overturn his federal guilty plea, claiming new evidence.
The Bureau of Prisons has faced increased scrutiny in recent years, revealing flaws such as sexual abuse by staff, escapes, violence, deaths, and staffing shortages. Bureau of Prisons Director Colette Peters, appointed last year, has pledged reforms, but lawmakers have criticized her for lack of transparency. The stabbing adds to concerns about the agency's ability to safeguard prisoners.
Floyd's death was filmed by a bystander on May 25, 2020, and sparked months of protests in the United States against racial injustice and police brutality.
Kueng, Tou Thao, and Thomas Lane were the three other officers on the scene as Floyd was killed while being taken into custody for allegedly using a fake $20 bill to buy a pack of cigarettes.
