Former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin has been convicted of murder and manslaughter in the death of George Floyd. The jury deliberated about 10 hours over two days. Floyd died last May after Chauvin pinned his knee on or close to the 46-year-old Black man’s neck for about 9 1/2 minutes.
Chauvin was found guilty on all three counts (listed below) he was charged.
Second-degree unintentional murder
It carries a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison, according to state sentencing guidelines. But for people with no criminal history, like Chauvin, the presumptive sentence is 12.5 years.
Third-degree murder
The charge carries a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison, or a presumptive sentence of 12.5 years for a person with no criminal history.
Second-degree manslaughter
This charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, or a presumptive sentence of four years for a person with no criminal history.
Chauvin was led out of the courtroom in handcuffs after the verdict was read. There will be a pre-sentence investigation and the sentencing will take place in about eight weeks.
Governor Tim Walz today released the following statement in response to the verdict reached in the trial of Derek Chauvin:
“Today’s verdict is an important step forward for justice in Minnesota. The trial is over, but our work has only begun. The world watched on May 25, 2020 as George Floyd died with a knee on his neck for nearly nine minutes. Thousands of Minnesotans marched in the streets last summer in the wake of his death—inspiring a movement around the globe. While many of these people never met George, they valued his humanity. They knew what happened was wrong. They called for change, and they demanded justice,” said Governor Walz. “A year later, Derek Chauvin has been found guilty of murder and faces years behind bars. But we know that accountability in the courtroom is only the first step. No verdict can bring George back, and my heart is with his family as they continue to grieve his loss. Minnesota mourns with you, and we promise the pursuit of justice for George does not end today. True justice for George only comes through real, systemic change to prevent this from happening again. And the tragic death of Daunte Wright this week serves as a heartbreaking reminder that we still have so much more work to do to get there. Too many Black people have lost—and continue to lose—their lives at the hands of law enforcement in our state. Our communities of color cannot go on like this. Our police officers cannot go on like this. Our state simply cannot go on like this. And the only way it will change is through systemic reform. We must rebuild, restore, and reimagine the relationship between law enforcement and the communities they serve. We must tackle racial inequities in every corner of society—from health to home ownership to education. We must come together around our common humanity. Let us continue on this march towards justice.”
Karl Anthony Towns of the Minnesota Timberwolves tweeted – “Justice and Accountability! Things I never thought I would see. There’s much more work to do, but this is an amazing start working toward the reform this country NEEDS!”
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