Minnesota Attorney General Elevates Charge to Second-Degree Murder for Officer Who Killed Floyd

The Minnesota State Police Chief is announcing the investigation results of the death of Black man George Floyd.
[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] The charge against former police officer Derek Chauvin, who suffocated George Floyd to death, has been upgraded from third-degree murder to second-degree murder.

On the 3rd (local time), Keith Ellison, Attorney General of Minnesota, announced plans to upgrade the criminal charges against Chauvin at a press conference. Chauvin pressed his knee on Floyd's neck for nearly nine minutes while arresting him, causing his death.

Initially, the Hennepin County prosecutor's office was in charge of the case and led the prosecution, but at the request of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Attorney General Ellison is now directly leading the investigation.

Chauvin was originally charged with third-degree murder, which acknowledges no intent to kill, sparking controversy. In the U.S., murder charges are classified into first to third degree, with second-degree murder classified as intentional homicide.

Attorney General Ellison added that the other three police officers present at the scene of Floyd's arrest will also be charged with conspiracy to commit murder and aiding and abetting.