Police officer convicted for murder of George Floyd, stabbed in prison

Derek Chauvin, the ex- police officer convicted in 2021 for the murder of George Floyd, has allegedly been stabbed while serving time in an Arizona prison, as per initial reports from the New York Times, which relies on undisclosed sources.

Chauvin gained notoriety for his actions in May 2020, kneeling on George Floyd’s neck for over nine minutes, leading to Floyd’s death and igniting widespread protests for racial justice. Floyd’s final plea, “I can’t breathe,” resonated as a powerful slogan for the movement.

Acknowledging an assault at the Federal Correctional Institution in Tucson, Arizona, the US Federal Bureau of Prisons did not disclose the victim’s identity but confirmed the initiation of life-saving measures and the prompt transportation of the individual to a hospital.

Convicted on charges of second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter in 2021, Chauvin received a 22.5-year sentence, drawing attention to stark contrasts between the initial police report and video evidence.

A subsequent Justice Department investigation into the Minneapolis Police Department unveiled a disturbing pattern of violent and racist practices. The city settled a wrongful death lawsuit with Floyd’s family for $27 million.

Despite Chauvin’s recent unsuccessful appeal of his second-degree murder conviction by the US Supreme Court, he has consistently criticized the trial process. During his sentencing, Chauvin expressed condolences to the Floyd family, maintaining a largely impassive demeanor throughout the trial and subsequent proceedings.