Chauvin Pronounced Guilty in the Killing of George Floyd

Former Minneapolis Police officer Derek Chauvin has been convicted on all charges for the killing of George Floyd on April 20^th 2021.

The 12 jurors found Chauvin guilty of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter after he killed George Floyd by kneeling on his neck during an attempted arrest in May 2020.

Chauvin’s eyes darted around the court room above his blue medical mask, the only emotion he held was a furrowed brow as the verdict was announced. He was then put in handcuffs and escorted out of the room.

The sentence for second-degree unintentional murder is imprisonment of 40 years maximum. The maximum sentence for third-degree murder is imprisonment for 25 years. The sentence for second-degree manslaughter is a maximum of 10 years and/or $20,000. This totals to a potential 75 years in prison for Chauvin.

After reading the jury’s verdicts, Judge Peter Cahill thanked all the anonymous jurors.

“I have to thank you on behalf of the people of the state of Minnesota, for not only jury service, but heavy-duty jury service,” he said.

The members of the jury will remain anonymous until the Judge deems it is safe for them to be revealed.

He also called Chauvin’s guilty verdict a “first step toward justice” and an act of accountability.

I would not call today’s verdict justice, however, because justice implies true restoration, but it is accountability, which is the first step towards justice,” he said.

George Floyd’s brother, Philonise Floyd, says he’s “able to breathe again” after Chauvin was found guilty on all three counts for his brother’s murder.

“I watched him put his hands behind his back — he had it a lot easier than my brother because my brother’s hands were pinned backwards,” Philonise Floyd told ABC News the morning after Chauvin was pronounced guilty.

Floyd’s murder was a spark for the Black Lives Matter movement who continue to march and stand up for justice against police brutality. Many members of the movement are relieved by this verdict, but still remorse for Floyd’s death.

“He brought everybody across this country together for one purpose and that was to make sure that these officers be held accountable,” said Floyd. “It was accountability.”

The sentencing date for Derek Chauvin has been set for June 16 at 1:30 p.m.