Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison (pictured below during a visit to Crookston) made several announcements today in the prosecution of the murder of George Floyd on May 25, 2020 in Minneapolis.
First, Attorney General Ellison announced that he has filed a charge of second-degree murder against former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin. The new second-degree murder charge joins the previously-filed charges of third-degree 
murder and second-degree manslaughter.
Second, Attorney General Ellison announced that he and Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman have filed charges of aiding and abetting second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter against former Minneapolis officers J.A. Kueng, Thomas Lane, and Tou Thao. Arrest warrants have been issued for Kueng, Lane, and Thao.
All the complaints charge that the four officers caused Mr. Floyd’s death while using unlawful and excessive force in arresting Mr. Floyd.
The complaints allege that on the evening of May 25, the officers arrested Mr. Floyd at 38th Street and Chicago Avenue in Minneapolis. In detaining Mr. Floyd, Derek Chauvin used an unauthorized restraint technique in which he pressed his knee into Mr. Floyd’s neck to restrict Mr. Floyd’s movement while Mr. Floyd was handcuffed and laying on the pavement. Thomas Lane and J.A. Kueng held Mr. Floyd by the legs and hips to further restrict movement. Tou Thao stood guard to prevent members of the public, who gathered nearby to witness the police action, from intervening to aid Mr. Floyd. While the officers restrained him nearly motionless on the ground, Mr. Floyd repeatedly told the officer he could not breathe and also said that he was about to die.
The complaints allege that Derek Chauvin, who last week was charged with third degree murder but now faces an additional charge of second degree murder, assaulted Mr. Floyd by using unauthorized and unnecessary force to intentionally inflict bodily harm upon Mr. Floyd. The actions of Tou Thao, Thomas Lane, and J.A. Kueng aided Chauvin’s assault by allowing him to continue to inflict bodily harm on Mr. Floyd for several minutes, well after any need by the officers to use physical force had dissipated. Because the actions of the officers resulted in Mr. Floyd’s death, second-degree murder is an appropriate charge.
Derek Chauvin was arrested on May 28 and remains in custody. J.A. Kueng, Thomas Lane, and Tou Thao were arrested today and also remain in custody.
The case is under continuing investigation by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. The officers will be prosecuted by the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office and the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office, with Attorney General Ellison as the lead prosecutor. Copies of the complaints for Chauvin, Kueng, Lane, and Thao are available on Attorney General Keith Ellison’s website.
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